NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not built any smoking shelters within the last five years.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) provides some exercise facilities available for its staff at no cost in London and Belfast. The Department provides these facilities as part of an ongoing commitment to its Workplace Health Improvement Programme.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2010,  Official Report, column 837W, on departmental internet, what the cost was of the website redesign.

Shaun Woodward: The cost for the redesign of the website was £4,185.94.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible for hosting events, recorded as expenditure under hospitality, which acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. These include receptions at Hillsborough Castle for representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society.
	The five events hosted by the Northern Ireland Office over the past three years which have incurred the greatest expenditure are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Date  Venue  £  
			 Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne May 2009 Hillsborough Castle 72,231.64 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society. 
			 Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall May 2008 Hillsborough Castle 86,996.18 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service in Afghanistan), to recognise their contribution to wider society. 
			 Annual Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall May 2007 Hillsborough Castle 73,698.35 This event held to acknowledge the contribution made by a wide range of people to life in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families (including those returning from active service abroad), to recognise their contribution to wider society. 
			 Royal Garden Party attended by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh June 2007 University of Ulster, Coleraine 73,902.33 Royal Garden Party held to acknowledge the contribution made specifically by those living in the north and north-west of Northern Ireland. 2,000 guests included representatives from the voluntary, charity and business sectors as well as the police, armed forces and their families. 
			 Royal Garden Party attended by HRH Princess Anne May 2007 Hillsborough Castle 64,318.58 This event was held to specifically acknowledge the unique contribution made by those working in the Northern Ireland Prison Service throughout the years of conflict in Northern Ireland. The 2,000 guests were drawn from current and former employees of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and their families.

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 653W, on hotels, for what reason his Department does not use the Expotel booking service.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), in conjunction with other public sector organisations in Northern Ireland, has a contract with a travel agent in Northern Ireland which provides a comprehensive travel booking service, including hotel bookings.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Ann McKechin: No smoking shelters have been built by the Scotland Office in the last five years.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: No expenditure has been incurred in the last five years on rooms for staff leisure.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office does not currently use voltage optimisers or other equivalent technologies in its premises.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department were in the last three years; and what  (a) the cost and  (b) purpose of each was.

Ann McKechin: The following were the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by the Scotland Office in the last three years:
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
			  Event  Purpose  
			 Secretary of State's reception for Trooping the Colour, 2008 To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders 6,477 
			 Secretary of State's reception for Trooping the Colour, 2009 To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders 6,311 
			 Reception for media attending the G20 summit of world leaders, 2009 To promote Scotland to the international media attending the G20 summit 5,065 
			 Secretary of State's reception for Trooping the Colour, 2007 To enable Scotland Office Ministers and Scottish MPs to engage with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders 4,605 
			 Lunch for the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 2009 To enable the Moderator to meet with Scottish MPs, Peers and lobby correspondents 4,123 
		
	
	All expenditure was incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Office for National Statistics: Publications

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements there are for the Office for National Statistics to provide information to his Department for inclusion in Departmental publications; what protocols apply to the use of such information by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: Much of the information presented in Scotland Office publications draws on material published elsewhere, including both PESA, published by HM Treasury, and Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland, published by the Scottish Government, both of which are classified as National Statistics. Some material published in the Scotland Office annual report is derived from data collected for administrative purposes. In keeping with any information in the public domain, no protocols exist for the use of information published by other Departments and classified as National Statistics.

Statistics: Scotland

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with the National Statistician on the  (a) methodology and  (b) presentation of national statistics in his Department's publication entitled (i) Scotland and Defence, (ii) Expenditure and revenue in Scotland, (iii) Tax and (iv) Scotland and Oil.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office Background Papers in question all draw on existing National Statistics publications but were not themselves classified as National Statistics. Indeed they simply draw on already existing statistics, such as the Scottish Government's GERS result that Scotland had a fiscal deficit of £11.1 billion in 2007-08. Such analysis clearly underlines how Scotland's economic prosperity is best safeguarded as being at the heart of the UK.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many persons were employed by the BBC in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: According to the BBC annual report and accounts, the number of staff employed by the BBC in each of the last three years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008-09 22,874 
			 2007-08 23,101 
			 2006-07 23,037 
		
	
	Detailed information on the nature of the roles undertaken by BBC staff is not held by my Department.

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent research he has undertaken on public opinion on the BBC and the licence fee as a means of funding it; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government undertook extensive research on public attitudes to the BBC and the licence fee as part of the Charter review process, which ran from 2003-06. This research was taken into account in determining the current six-year funding settlement, implemented from 1 April 2007.

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward proposals to allow commercial advertising on BBC channels; what recent representations he has on this issue; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the terms of the BBC's Charter and Agreement, the BBC cannot show commercial advertising on its licence fee-funded channels without the express approval of the Secretary of State. I have neither been asked for nor given such approval.
	I regularly receive representations on various aspects of the BBC. Whenever the issue of advertising is raised, my response is that I have no intention of amending the current arrangements.

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the 2006 Agreement between the Secretary of State and the BBC; what discussions he has had with the BBC since January 2010 on broadcasting standards; what response he received from the BBC; if he will place in the Library a copy of the note taken of each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I have had no discussions with the BBC on broadcasting standards since January 2010.

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the  (a) Chairman of the BBC Trust and  (b) Director General of the BBC; what issues were discussed; whether a record of the meeting was kept; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I last met the Chairman of the BBC Trust on 19 October 2009, when we discussed a range of current issues.
	I last met the Director-General of the BBC on 8 March 2010 when he provided a brief summary of the BBC's Strategy Review, which had been published on 2 March.
	According to standard departmental procedure, all ministerial meetings are recorded.

BBC

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account he will take of commitments to ensure  (a) efficiency savings and  (b) the prevention of inflation of staff and talent costs at the BBC in determining the future level of the BBC licence fee; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government will take all relevant matters into consideration in setting the future level of the licence fee.
	Under the terms of the BBC Charter and Agreement, it is the responsibility of the BBC Trust to ensure that the BBC delivers financial efficiency and hold the Executive to account for its performance in delivering value for money.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not spent anything on interior design in the last five years.

Departmental Contracts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will issue guidance on his Department's policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department does not have a policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts.

Departmental Manpower

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department employs two grade 2 civil servants.

Departmental Public Consultation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) questionnaires,  (b) statistical enquiries and  (c) investigations have been carried out wholly or partly at public expense on behalf of or by his Department or public bodies for which he is responsible in each year since 1997; and what the (i) nature, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was of each.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested on behalf of my Department can be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department does not hold this information in relation to public bodies.
	Information on the official statistics produced by my Department and its bodies can be found on the DCMS website in the DCMS Official Statistics catalogue at:
	http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/research_and _statistics/4824.aspx

Television: Licensing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many free television licences have been issued to residents of  (a) Southend, West constituency,  (b) Essex County Council authority area and  (c) England and Wales in each year since such licences were introduced.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department does not hold the information. Free television licences for people aged 75 or over are issued by TV Licensing as agents for the BBC. This is, therefore, a matter for the BBC.
	I understand that the BBC does not collate information on licence holders aged 75 or over by constituency, county or nation as this is not necessary for the purposes of licence fee collection.

Television: Licensing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the television licence fee was in each year since 1990; what plans he has to change the level of the licence fee in each of the next three years; what discussions he has had with the BBC about the licence fee since January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the level of the licence fee since 1990 is available on the BBC website at the following web address:
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/licencefee.shtml
	A six year funding settlement for the BBC was announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) in January 2007 and took effect from 1 April 2007. The settlement provided for annual increases in the television licence for the six years of the licence fee period, subject to the making of the necessary regulations setting the licence fee for the coming year.
	Under the terms of the settlement, the increase in the licence fee from 1 April 2012 will be between 0 per cent. and 2 per cent., subject to a review nearer the time.
	The Government remain committed to the settlement and do not intend to reopen it within the six-year period. This is because of the important principle that maintaining multi-year settlements helps to support the BBC's independence from Government and avoids suggestions of political interference.
	I have regular discussions with the BBC on a range of issues.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Elections: Fraud

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for South- West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many allegations of electoral malpractice have been reported to the Electoral Commission by police in each of the last 10 years.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that police forces are not obliged to report allegations of electoral malpractice to the Commission. Since 2008, however, the Commission has worked with police forces to establish a mechanism for collating information about cases of alleged electoral malpractice reported to the police.
	In 2008, police forces reported 103 cases involving a total of 476 allegations of electoral malpractice in England and Wales; there were no elections in Scotland. In 2009, police forces reported 48 cases involving a total of 107 allegations of electoral malpractice in Great Britain.
	The Commission has published its analysis of these cases, including the outcome of investigations and prosecutions where relevant. Copies of its reports for 2008 and 2009 have been placed in the Library.

General Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for South- West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what timetable the Electoral Commission has set for the publication of its guidance on counting ballots on general election night; and if the Electoral Commission will make it its policy to ensure that counting on general election night is the expected norm.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that each Returning Officer is individually responsible for making arrangements for the count, and for complying with any provisions which may impact on its timing.
	The Commission further informs me that it published draft guidance for Returning Officers on the timing of UK parliamentary election counts on 16 March 2010 and will publish formal guidance when the relevant provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CRAG) Bill are commenced. The draft guidance is available on the Commission's website:
	www.electoralcommission.org.uk
	In its draft guidance the Commission has stressed to Returning Officers that they should be aware of the strength of support among Members of Parliament for overnight counts, although its policy remains that the accuracy of the result and confidence in the election result are of paramount importance.

Political Parties: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for South- West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1084W, on political parties: finance, what stage the Electoral Commission's research into the operation of the political levy and political fund has reached; and whether the Electoral Commission has met  (a) the Certification Officer for Great Britain and  (b) the Northern Ireland Certification Officer in the course of its research.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1149W, its research was limited to the legislative framework and information on how the political levy and political funds currently operate. The Commission completed this work in 2008.
	The Commission further informs me that Commission staff met staff of the Certification Officer for Great Britain in the course of the research but that there were no equivalent meetings with staff of the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beaches: Standards

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made in increasing the cleanliness of beaches.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Local authorities have a duty to keep their relevant land, including beaches above the high water mark, clear of litter and refuse. While local authorities monitor cleanliness through the National Indicator 195 (improved street and environmental cleanliness), DEFRA does not ask authorities to specifically report on the cleanliness of their beaches. This makes it difficult to assess whether or not beaches in general are achieving higher levels of cleanliness. Through the Blue Flag Beach Award scheme, administered by DEFRA's delivery partner Keep Britain Tidy, beaches are assessed for litter, amongst other indicators. The latest awards will be announced in May of this year.

Coastal Erosion

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department undertakes surveys of cliff and coastal erosion.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Surveys of cliff and coastal erosion are undertaken by local authorities. The frequency of surveys is determined by the scale of the risk.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by his Department to assist special advisers.

Dan Norris: The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that, in order to enable special advisers to work effectively, departments may allocate permanent civil servants to provide support of a non-political nature. In DEFRA, two members of the Secretary of State's private office assist the special advisers; they are an executive officer and an administrative officer.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that all households are able to have a weekly domestic refuse collection.

Dan Norris: The Government believe that local authorities are best placed to make decisions for their own communities, so does not interfere in the waste collection decisions local authorities make.

Electronic Warfare

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused  (a) deliberately and  (b) through solar activity on the critical infrastructure of his Department.

Dan Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) on 3 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1282W.

Floods: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the  (a) likelihood and  (b) potential effects of surface water flooding in built-up areas in Castle Point constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has modelled areas susceptible to surface water flooding in Castle Point constituency and elsewhere. The model shows the effects of a single storm with a 1:200 annual chance of occurring, allowing for regional variations in rainfall.
	DEFRA carried out an assessment which ranked settlements nationally based on numbers of properties at risk. Castle Point settlements identified were: Canvey Island: 240th (1,700 properties), Benfleet: 316th (1,000), and North Benfleet: 1,411th (100).

Floods: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received from  (a) Essex county council and  (b) Castle Point borough council on the methodology used to allocate funding for the development of surface water management plans.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My Department has received no formal representations from Essex county council or Castle Point borough council about the methodology used to allocate £9.7 million funding for the development of surface water management plans (SWMPs) announced in August 2009, or on the allocations for Early Actions bids announced on 19 March 2010.
	A formal process was put in place for local authorities to challenge the methodology used to allocate the £9.7 million funding for the development of SWMPs. This was not used by either Essex county council or Castle Point borough council.
	Castle Point borough council wrote to the Secretary of State on 16 March 2009 requesting consideration be given to funding a SWMP for Canvey Island and my reply of 14 May 2009 explained the funding arrangements available.

Floods: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department received bids for funding for early actions to tackle local flood risk from  (a) Essex county council and  (b) Castle Point borough council.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Essex county council did not bid for Early Action flood protection funding.
	Castle Point borough council bid for a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP). This was unsuccessful. We received bids totalling in excess of £20 million. Allocation was prioritised on the scale of risk reduction; number of properties within the SWMP; certainty of the risk being managed; and confidence of the proposal delivering by March 2011.

Forests: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to protect woodland in the West Midlands.

Huw Irranca-Davies: All tree felling is administered by the Forestry Commission in accordance with the felling regulations under the Forestry Act 1967 (as amended). Any felling carried out without a licence is an offence, unless it is covered by one of the exemptions specified in the legislation. Under the Forestry Act, the Forestry Commission usually attaches conditions to the felling licence to secure replanting of the area felled.
	Other measures to protect woodland, such as tree preservation orders, are available to local authorities in the West Midlands and throughout England.

Landfill

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether local authorities will be fully refunded for costs incurred in complying with the proposed landfill ban under the new burdens principle.

Dan Norris: A consultation is currently taking place on options to restrict the landfilling of biodegradable and recyclable wastes, including landfill bans. This is a first stage consultation on the principle of introducing such restrictions, and responses from this consultation will inform Government consideration of whether it is desirable, practical and affordable to introduce restrictions.
	The consultation is accompanied by an impact assessment which sets out the estimated costs and benefits of any potential landfill restrictions. Should Government conclude they wish to introduce restrictions, the specific proposals would be the subject of a second stage consultation.
	Depending on the nature of any proposal the Government may publish in a second stage consultation, the new burdens principle would apply to any policies which increase the cost of providing local authority services and impact solely or disproportionately on local government.

Marine Conservation Zones

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to ensure scientific evidence is taken into account in identifying marine conservation zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
	(2)  what socio-economic criteria will be taken into account in  (a) the selection of individual sites and  (b) the design of an ecologically cohesive network of marine conservation zones;
	(3)  whether the seven principles of ecological cohesion will be adhered to in the designation of marine conservation zones;
	(4)  whether the minimum conservation objectives for marine conservation zones will be a favourable condition used in designating sites of special scientific interest.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Designations of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), by necessity, must be based on science to identify the case for conserving habitats, flora and fauna in accordance with the provisions set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act. The Government have established an independent Science Advisory Panel who will advise both the regional projects and Government on the science. In our statement of 11 March to Parliament, the Government set out the seven principles of ecological coherence it will apply. The development of the ecological guidance to be issued by the SNCBs is being informed by research that has been subject to peer review.
	It will be the responsibility of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, working with four regional stakeholder projects, to set out the rationale in its advice to Government on where to create MCZs and the conservation objectives to be achieved. A key part of this will involve assembling evidence, including scientific and socio-economic data. We consider that the concept of Good Environmental Status-which will be defined through implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive-should guide the minimum level acceptable for MCZ objectives, as far as that is an appropriate measure for a site-based conservation tool. Government expect that scientific uncertainty will be explicitly recognised in that advice. For example, our understanding of the connectivity principle is still evolving and while not unimportant it will be a secondary consideration.
	There will be choices to be made, for example between replicate features, or site management measures, or how to support both development and conservation policies. We expect socio-economic considerations to be taken into account at all stages to inform these choices. These considerations will include opportunity costs. The criteria to be applied will be ones that provide confidence that decisions will result in an ecologically coherent network that is well supported, understood and can be managed to contribute to our vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

Nature Conservation: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to protect wildlife in the West Midlands.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England is the lead delivery body for the Government's strategy to conserve wildlife in England. Examples of Natural England's action in the West Midlands include:
	Increasing the total area of the most important sites for nature conservation-Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)-in the region in favourable or recovering condition; this being 20,000 ha or 89.75 per cent. of the total resource in the region.
	Getting 63 per cent. of the utilisable agricultural area of the region under an agri-environment agreement through £40 million of annual investment in environmental stewardship and classic schemes, which pay land managers to manage their land in ways that benefits biodiversity, the historic environment and the landscape.
	In particular through the Higher Level Stewardship scheme (HLS) bringing over 3,000 ha of existing wildlife habitats into favourable management and creating an additional 450 ha of new habitats across the region, and bringing an additional 800 ha of farmland under specific agreement to provide suitable feeding and breeding habitats for target species of farmland birds.
	Ensuring that 2,816 ha (97.3 per cent.) of the region's National Nature Reserves are in favourable or recovering condition.
	Providing funding of £186,000 in 2009-10 to regional and local biodiversity partnerships in the West Midlands, and supporting the local Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB on "Wetland Vision, Lapwing Meadows" and other projects, with more than £60,000 of funding in the same year.

Recycling: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage recycling in the West Midlands.

Dan Norris: Local authorities are best placed to make decisions on the waste management strategy for their communities, although the Government strongly encourage recycling through a range of measures. Local authorities are required by law to provide every household with a kerbside collection of at least two materials by December 2010 as part of a strategy to increase recycling.
	Through the Waste Resources Action programme (WRAP) we are providing tailored support to local authorities to facilitate and encourage recycling.
	Over the last five years, WRAP has provided advice and support to every local authority in the West Midlands. Three authorities (Stratford on Avon, Newcastle under Lyme and Shropshire council) are already signatories to the recently launched Waste Collection Commitment, developed by WRAP and the Local Government Association. This sets out the principles of a good recycling service, one of which is that local authorities should collect as many materials for recycling as possible and then explain clearly what happens to them.
	WRAP is working with the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, to deliver a £5.4 million programme to increase collections of waste material, develop recycling infrastructure and increase the use of recycled materials. The support will be a mixture of capital funding and business development support.

PRIME MINISTER

Building Resilience

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010,  Official Report, column 2W, on community relations, when the paper was classified; what level of classification it has; what assessment has been made of that classification in the last 12 months; and what the reasons are for its classification.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 22 March 2010,  Official Report, column 2W.

Tony Blair

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the memorandum written by David Manning on 30 January 2003 and  (b) the minutes of the meeting which took place between Tony Blair and President Bush in Crawford, Texas, on 22 February 2003.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government do not publish classified documents in the Libraries of the House.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Corruption

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has classified MW Kellogg as a self-reporting company under the SFO's Approach to Dealing with Overseas Corruption issued in July 2009.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office does not confirm or deny the existence of such classification in any particular case it may be investigating.

Government Departments: Judicial Review

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Solicitor-General with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 1 March 2009,  Official Report, column 943W, on Government departments: judicial review, in respect of what cases each Department was a first defendant and the judicial review was granted following a substantive hearing between 2007 and 2009.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The cases where challenges by way of judicial review were upheld against Government Departments following substantive hearings, as set out in the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 1 March 2010, are as follows:
	 2007
	 Secretary of State for Defence
	Challenge against orders of Secretary of State "stopping up" two footpaths and setting out replacement routes;
	 Secretary of State for Home Department (SSHD)
	Challenge to removal directions set by SSHD;
	 SSHD
	Challenge against decision of SSHD to detain claimant following his release on bail;
	 Secretary of State for Justice (SSJ)
	Challenge to decision to revoke licence and take claimant back into custody;
	 SSJ
	Challenge against effects of Training Centre (Amendment) Rules 2007;
	 SSJ
	Challenge against decision of Governor to handcuff prisoner while attending hospital for treatment;
	 SSJ
	Challenge regarding failure to move prisoner to open prison following Parole Board decision;
	 Secretary of State for Communitie s and Local Government (SSCLG)
	Challenge against decision to allow appeals against dismissal of 2 Fire Officers pursuant to the Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations 1985;
	 SSGLG
	Challenge against decision to dismiss an appeal against a determination made under the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme (LABGIS);
	 SSCLG
	Challenge against decision of Defendant to refuse to retrospectively review the claimant's one year grant under the LABGIS;
	 Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (SSTI)
	Challenge to decision announced in July 2006 Energy Review Report deciding to support nuclear new build;
	 SSTI
	Challenge to October 2005 decision transposing into domestic law provisions of the Equal Treatment Amending Directive (CB2002/73EC);
	 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
	Challenge to Defendant's decision confirming overpayment of income support.
	 2008
	 DEFRA
	Challenge against approach taken and policy adopted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the control of the use of pesticides in crop spraying;
	 HMCS
	Challenge against defendant's decision to issue a warrant of commitment to prison for a term of 1,190 days;
	 SSHD
	Challenge to decision of SSHD not to treat further representations of claimant as a fresh claim pursuant to paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules;
	 SSHD
	Challenge of decision of SSHD informing claimant that she had no basis to stay in UK following refusal of her application for leave to remain;
	 SSHD
	Challenge to decision of SSHD not to treat further representations of claimant as a fresh claim pursuant to paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules;
	 SSHD
	Challenge to decision of SSHD to continue to detain the claimant pending ongoing arrangements being made for his removal;
	 SSHD
	Challenge to decision of SSHD not to treat further representations of claimant as a fresh claim pursuant to paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules;
	 SSJ
	Challenge regarding failure to move prisoner to open prison following Parole Board decision;
	 SSJ
	Challenge by category A prisoner serving life sentence against decision not to re-categorise him to category B;
	 SSCLG
	Challenge against various decisions of Planning Inspector ordering council to pay an interested party's costs of pursuing her planning appeals;
	 SSCLG
	Challenge against decision of Planning Inspector dismissing an application for costs on appeal under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
	 SSTI
	Challenge of decision of Inspector to exclude certain evidence in respect of an application by the National Grid for wayleaves over the land of the claimant.
	 2009
	 SSHD
	Challenge against decision of SSHD refusing claimant leave to remain in the country;
	 SSHD
	Challenge against decisions of SSHD to: (i) remove the claimant from the country while he still had a valid appeal pending; (ii) to revoke his residence permit; and (iii) to arrest and detain him;
	 SSHD
	Challenge against decision of SSHD refusing claimant leave to remain as a student;
	 SSJ
	Challenge by category A prisoner serving life sentence against decision not to re-categorise him to category B.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Industrial Disputes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2010,  Official Report, column 556W, on Equality and Human Rights Commission: industrial disputes, how much was paid out of public funds to settle the dispute in each of the 12 cases.

Maria Eagle: EHRC is independent and it manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
	Of the 12 cases concerned two have been settled for a monetary sum. The total amount paid in these cases was £25,000. The other 10 cases were settled without a monetary payment.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2010,  Official Report, column 68W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, if she will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence  (a) requesting the use of the Commission's buildings for non-Commission business and  (b) (i) granting and (ii) revoking such permission.

Maria Eagle: The EHRC is independent and manages its own affairs. I have placed the correspondence it has provided in the Libraries of both Houses.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality for what reasons the Equality and Human Rights Commission pays travel and expenses rates to staff based on the rates paid by each of the Commission's predecessor bodies.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
	The EHRC has kept in place existing HMRC approved travel and expenses policy based on the legacy commission rates while it is in the process of finalising its new travel expenses policy that would apply to all EHRC staff. The new policy will be part of a suite of human resource policies which are due to be implemented in April 2010.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 41W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: databases, what requirements there will be on local authorities to provide information for the Equality Measuring Framework database.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
	The Commission advise that no increased burden will fall on local authorities as a result of the Equality Measurement Framework, as all the data for the tool will be taken from existing sources only.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 41W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: databases, if she will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the procurement notice for the Equality Measuring Framework database and  (b) the full specification for the database.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
	A procurement notice for the Equality Measurement Framework is expected to be published in April 2010 and will be made available in due course. The contractor will be asked to specify the structure of the database so it is not possible to provide a full specification at this stage.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what volume of carbon dioxide has been emitted from the UK in each year since 2007, reckoned on the environmental accounts basis.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what volume of carbon dioxide has been emitted from the UK in each year since 2007, reckoned on an environmental accounts basis. (321276).
	I refer to my previous answer in Official Report, Volume 507, column 793 of 16 March 2010 to your question regarding carbon dioxide emissions since 1990 (320331) which details annual UK emissions up to and including 2007. These are the latest available figures on a national accounts basis. The scheduled release date for the 2008 figures, to be published as part of the UK Environmental Accounts, has been pre-announced as Friday 11 June 2010.

Carbon Emissions: Business

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on carbon reporting by large companies; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: This year I have received representations from the Aldersgate Group to introduce regulations requiring the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by large companies as soon as practicable. I have also received ministerial correspondence on this subject from MPs and members of the public. Other Departments have also received representations.
	The Government are currently undertaking a review evaluating the contribution which reporting makes to the achievement of the UK's climate change objectives, as required under the Climate Change Act 2008. The review is due to be completed by 1 December 2010. The conclusions of that review will help to inform decisions on whether to make reporting mandatory.

Collaboration Agreements

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 1493-4W, on collaboration agreements, on what date the Joint Meeting on Enhanced Collaboration will take place; where the meeting will be held; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of that meeting; and what  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals have been invited to that meeting.

David Kidney: The UK-India Workshop on Civil Nuclear R&D Collaboration is being hosted by the Energy and Physical Sciences Research Council [EPSRC], with assistance from officials within the FCO, on 22 to 24 March 2010. Whitehall officials from FCO, MOD, DIS, DfID, DECC and BIS have been invited as well as senior figures from India's Department of Atomic Energy [DAE] and Indian industry representatives.
	The workshop is being held at the Cumberland Hotel, London. Stephen Elsby, senior sector manager for power at EPSRC, is leading the event.
	As this workshop has not been arranged by DECC I am unable to provide details of exact costs incurred or Indian officials attending.

Departmental Recruitment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department and its agencies spent on external recruitment consultants in the last year for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: For the financial year 2009-10 the Department has spent a total of £231,385 on external recruitment consultants.

Energy: Conservation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when energy efficient circulator pumps will be labelled Energy Saving Recommended.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not have information on when circulator pumps will be labelled Energy Saving Recommended. Responsibility for this issue rests with the Energy Saving Trust.

Energy: Conservation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when energy efficient circulator pumps will be included on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not have information on when energy efficient circulator pumps will be included on the website of the Energy Saving Trust. This is a matter for the Energy Saving Trust.

Energy: Conservation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average payback period is for each type of energy efficient technology commercially available, with particular reference to circulator pumps and technologies applicable to non-domestic properties, ranked by their payback period; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Many of the energy efficiency technologies could be employed in both the domestic and non-domestic arena, so the information on payback periods provided in response to question 1088 may be relevant to some smaller non-domestic applications. However, information on the payback periods in non-domestic properties are much more difficult to determine because of the likely significant variation in scale, cost and use. The Department does not hold this information.

Energy: Conservation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) average internal rate of return and  (b) cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide not emitted was for each type of energy efficient technology commercially available, in the latest period for which figures are available, with particular reference to circulator pumps and those technologies applicable to non-domestic properties, ranked by their payback period; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Department does not hold information on the internal rate of return, as this information would be specific to each company and installed measure.
	The private cost per kilogram of carbon dioxide not emitted (avoided) under a CERT regime can be determined for a range of technologies from the information provided in the following tables 1 and 2. The cost can be obtained by dividing the total cost for the measure, shown in table 2, by the relevant carbon dioxide savings shown in table 1 (multiply the figures shown in table 1 by 1,000 to obtain kilograms of carbon dioxide). The Department does not hold this information for circulator pumps.
	
		
			  Table 1: Lifetime CO 2  saving score per measure, in the priority and non-priority groups 
			 Lifetime C O 2  savings per measure tC O 2  (lifetime) 
			   Carbon saving measure  Lifetime (years)  PG  Non-PG 
			 Insulation Cavity wall insulation 40 23.74 26.34 
			  Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) 40 14.70 18.10 
			  Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) 40 4.34 5.34 
			  Loft insulation (DIY) 40 9.40 11.58 
			  SWI external 30 62.02 68.83 
			  SWI internal 30 58.64 65.08 
			  Insulated wallpaper 30 20.17 22.38 
			  Tank insulation-top-up 10 1.98 1.98 
			  Glazing E to C rated 20 1.52 1.72 
			  Draughtproofing 20 2.32 2.86 
			  
			 Heating A/B rated boilers (exceptions) 12 3.95 4.47 
			  Fuel switching 20 74.97 84.94 
			  Heating controls-upgrade with boiler 12 0.38 0.44 
			  Heating controls-extra 12 3.09 3.57 
			  Wood pellet stoves (secondary) 20 11.10 12.58 
			  Log burning stoves 20 3.99 4.52 
			  Wood pellet boilers (primary) 20 95.84 108.60 
			  Solar water heater (4m(2)) 25 8.14 8.14 
			  Ground source heat pumps 40 95.97 108.75 
			  Air source heat pumps 15 42.57 48.23 
			  Wood chip CHP 30 96.48 107.07 
			  Community GSHP 40 20.42 22.66 
			  Community heating to wood chip 30 106.41 118.08 
			  Replacement of G rated boilers 6 5.44 6.17 
			  
			 Lighting CFLs-retail 8 0.05 0.05 
			  Efficient halogens 6.51 0.02 0.02 
			  LEDs 18 0.14 0.14 
			  
			 Appliances A rated cold appliances (1)-   
			  A rated wet appliances (1)-   
			  iDTVs (1)-   
			  PC mains panels 5 0.15 0.16 
			  Energy saving kettles 5 0.04 0.04 
			  LNBs 7 0.04 0.04 
			  A++ cold appliances 12 0.58 0.58 
			  A++ wet appliances 12 0.11 0.11 
			  
			 Microgen Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) 25 22.78 22.78 
			  micro Wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) 10 3.78 3.78 
			  micro Hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) 20 26.44 26.44 
			  Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF 22.5 84.98 84.98 
			  mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec) 15 2.91 3.30 
			  
			 Other RTDs 15 0.996 0.996 
			  Advice only 7.5 0.6675 0.6675 
			 (1) No longer eligible 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 : Assumed costs of measures 
			  £ 
			Basic installation cost  Administration cost  Total cost 
			   Carbon saving measure  All  PG  non-PG  PG  non-PG  PG  non-PG 
			 Insulation Cavity wall insulation 380 356 395 87 71 443 466 
			  Loft insulation professional (from < 60mm) 286 268 297 70 57 338 355 
			  Loft insulation professional (from > 60mm) 286 268 297 70 57 338 355 
			  Loft insulation (DIY) 120 107 128 32 28 138 157 
			  SWI external 8,500 7,969 8,830 293 225 8,262 9,054 
			  SWI internal 5,100 4,781 5,298 273 210 5,054 5,508 
			  Insulated wallpaper 3,700 3,469 3,843 256 198 3,725 4,042 
			  Tank insulation-top-up 14 14 14 4 3 18 17 
			  Glazing E to C rated 212 199 220 55 45 253 265 
			  Draughtproofing 101 94 105 28 24 123 128 
			  
			 Heating A/B rated boilers (exceptions) 212 209 214 57 44 266 258 
			  Fuel switching 2,014 1,888 2,092 216 169 2,104 2,261 
			  Heating controls-upgrade with boiler 90 84 94 26 21 110 115 
			  Heating controls-extra 148 139 154 40 33 179 188 
			  Wood pellet stoves (secondary) 1,417 1,399 1,428 192 147 1,592 1,575 
			  Log burning stoves 1,000 988 1,008 164 125 1,151 1,133 
			  Wood pellet boilers (primary) 7,200 7,110 7,256 289 220 7,399 7,476 
			  Solar water heater (4m(2)) 3,500 3,500 3,500 257 194 3,757 3,694 
			  Ground source heat pumps 11,360 10,295 12,021 301 231 10,596 12,252 
			  Air source heat pumps 5,844 5,771 5,889 281 214 6,052 6,103 
			  Wood chip CHP 9,281 9,165 9,353 298 226 9,463 9,579 
			  Community GSHP 4,250 4,197 4,283 267 203 4,463 4,486 
			  Community heating to wood chip 350 346 353 85 65 430 418 
			  Replacement of G rated boilers 2,500 2,500 2,500 236 179 2,736 2,679 
			  
			 Lighting CFLs-retail 1.10 1.10 1.10 0.36 0.27 1.46 1.37 
			  Efficient halogens 2.50 2.50 2.50 0.82 0.62 3.32 3.12 
			  LEDs 8.00 7.00 8.62 2.29 2.14 9.29 10.76 
			  
			 Appliances A rated cold appliances (1)-   
			  A rated wet appliances (1)-   
			  iDTVs (1)-   
			  PC mains panels 25 25 25 8 6 33 31 
			  Energy saving kettles 17 17 17 6 4 23 21 
			  LNBs 10 10 10 3 2 13 12 
			  A++ cold appliances 100 100 100 30 23 130 123 
			  A++ wet appliances 100 100 100 30 23 130 123 
			  
			 Microgen Photovoltaic panels (2.5 kWp) 6,338 6,338 6,338 285 216 6,623 6,553 
			  Micro wind (1 kWp, 10 per cent. LF) 3,200 3,200 3,200 251 190 3,451 3,390 
			  Micro hydro (0.7 kWp, 50 per cent. LF) 1,890 1,890 1,890 216 163 2,106 2,053 
			  Mini-wind 5 kW, 20 per cent. LF 21,000 21,000 21,000 315 239 21,315 21,239 
			  mCHP (80 per cent. heat, 15 per cent. elec) 600 563 623 119 96 681 719 
			  
			 Other RTDs 20 20 20 6 5 26 25 
			  Advice only 35 35 35 11 8 46 43 
			 (1) No longer eligible 
		
	
	This information was extracted from pages 55 and 56 of the impact assessment for the CERT consultation and can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cert_ext/cert_ext.aspx

Fossil Fuel Levy: Scotland

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the balance of the Scottish Fossil Fuel levy account was on 28 February 2010.

David Kidney: The balance of the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy account as at 28 February 2010 was £180 million.

National Grid

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking towards the deployment of a smart grid.

David Kidney: We published the document "Smarter Grids-The Opportunity" on 2 December 2009.
	We are ensuring that the smart meter rollout acts as an enabler to smart grids and are developing potential policy options to ensure the electricity infrastructure can meet future challenges in light of the Energy Market Assessment and the initial findings of the 2050 road map analysis. DECC also issued a press notice on Friday 26 March announcing the winning projects in the smart grids capital grants programme under the Low Carbon Innovation Fund.

National Skills Academy for Nuclear: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse has been of the establishment of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear to date; and what the Academy's annual operating budget is.

David Kidney: The cost of running and setting up the National Skills Academy for Nuclear for three years to 31 December 2010 is £6.6 million. Of this, £3.75 million came from the public sector-the Learning and Skills Council.
	The annual running cost of the academy in 2010 will be around £1.5 million. Of this, £311,000 will come from the Learning and Skills Council and the rest from employer/provider contributions and other revenue sources.
	In line with the Government policy, Skills Academies are required to move to a wholly industry funded model within three years. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear should be self financing by the three year deadline in December 2010.

Nuclear Waste: Waste Management

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will break down by budget line the funds allocated to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the development of a geological disposal facility for highly radioactive nuclear waste for the financial years 2010-15.

David Kidney: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for allocating its total funding between its activities. The NDA's budget for its Radioactive Waste Management Directorate for 2010-11 is £19 million. The NDA budget from 2011 onwards has yet to be determined.

Nuclear Waste: Waste Management

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding has been  (a) allocated to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the development of a geological disposal facility for high level radioactive waste and  (b) requested by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the same purpose for the financial years 2010-15.

David Kidney: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR07) settlement provided the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) with £1.7 billion direct Government funding for 2010-11. Together with its projected commercial income total funding will be around £2.9 billion. The NDA is responsible for allocating funding between its activities and allocated £19 million to its radioactive waste management directorate, which has responsibility for implementing geological disposal, for 2010-11. The NDA budget from 2011 onwards has yet to be determined.

Personal Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to require all employees of energy companies who enter domestic properties to carry a personal carbon monoxide alarm.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have no plans at present to bring forward proposals in this area. The HSE is aware though that an energy supply company has provided its employees with personal carbon monoxide alarms and that they have been sharing their experience with other companies. HSE will continue to encourage this exchange of information on the practicalities of the use of different types of equipment in order to identify best working practices. HSE has also provided support to a scheme where personal carbon monoxide alarms are used by community-based services.

UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many times the UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change announced in Poznan in December 2008 has met; what the membership of the working group is; and what the outcomes of the working group have been to date.

Joan Ruddock: The UK-Indonesia Working Group on Environment and Climate Change had its first meeting in June 2009. The second meeting will be held in July 2010.
	The core members of the working group are DECC, DEFRA and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment as the co-signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding. Representatives from other Government Departments and agencies from both the UK and Indonesia participate in meetings as appropriate.
	Outcomes of the working group to date include the exchange of information on the EU renewable energy directive; carbon capture and storage; sustainable palm oil; and forestry and land use issues. Under the bilateral agreement between the UK and Indonesia the UK also funded two Indonesian negotiators' attendance at the June 2009 UNFCCC Intersessional and COP 15 in Copenhagen. In March this year we hosted a two-week placement for an Indonesian Government official at DECC and DEFRA.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Advisory Body

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what criteria were used to select hon. Members to serve on the advisory body on the proposed day nursery at 1 Parliament street; which hon. Members were appointed to the advisory body; and if the Commission will publish the advisory body's advice.

Nick Harvey: The Commission decided in December 2009 that there should be an advisory panel of Members for the nursery project. Mr. Speaker wrote to three Members in February to ask them to serve on the panel. The criteria in asking those Members to serve were that the panel should be small, that each of the three largest parties in the House should be represented, that the panel should otherwise be as representative of the House as a whole as possible, and that panel members should be broadly supportive of the project. The right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Lochaber (Mr. Kennedy), the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing) and my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, East (Jessica Morden) agreed to be members of the panel. The panel will convey its views informally to the Commission through the project board rather than in a form suitable for publication.

Members: Email

Nick Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 24 February 2010,  Official Report, column 563W, on Members: email, if the House of Commons Commission will take steps to allow hon. Members to list their Public PGP Key on the parliament.uk website by their entry and contact details.

Nick Harvey: It is more appropriate for Members to list their public PGP keys on their own websites. Members can already choose whether there is a link from the Parliament website to their own sites.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the estimated gross loss of income to the Refreshment Department is in 2010-11 arising from the closure of its facilities at 1 Parliament street.

Nick Harvey: It is estimated that the income (i.e. sales excluding VAT) from the facilities being closed in 1 Parliament street would have been approximately £225,000 in 2010-11. However, this reduction in receipts in 1 Parliament street is expected to be offset to a significant extent by an expected increase in receipts in other venues, such as Moncrieff's and the private dining rooms in the Palace. On the basis of historical figures, Bellamy's bar would be expected to make an operating loss in the region of £10,000 in 2010-11, while the Astor Suite would be expected to contribute an operating surplus of some £80,000. These figures, however, do not take into account the costs of accommodation or equipment.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010,  Official Report, column 170W, on nurseries, on what date the nursery is planned to start operating; and on what date it would have been likely to open if the matter had been referred to the Finance and Services Committee.

Nick Harvey: It is planned that the nursery will begin operating in September 2010, but the precise date has yet to be determined. It is not possible to give an exact answer to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, but the Commission decided to move ahead in order to achieve the opening date in September without further delay.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what categories of costs will be included in the calculation of the full running cost of the nursery facility at 1 Parliament street, to be recovered from users under the terms of the Commission's decision of 14 December 2009.

Nick Harvey: This has yet to be finally determined.

Nurseries

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when staff working on the site proposed to be used for a day nursery in 1 Parliament street will be informed about arrangements for their redeployment.

Nick Harvey: Catering staff working at 1 Parliament street were told by the Director of Catering Services on 16 December 2009 about the Commission's decision to convert Bellamy's Bar, the Club Room and the Astor Suite into a day nursery. Since then affected staff have had one-to-one consultations with managers to discuss options for their redeployment and the trade unions have been kept informed of proposals. Subject to their acceptance of their proposed redeployment, formal letters notifying staff of their new duties will be issued shortly.

Security

Nick Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009,  Official Report, column 953W, on security, what the private security firm was; and how much has been paid to that firm.

Nick Harvey: Detica Ltd. undertook a piece of work, which cost £15,640 inclusive of VAT, in support of the internal inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of information about Members' allowances.

Speaker's Adviser

Christopher Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010,  Official Report, column 171W, on the Speaker's adviser, for what reason the financial implications of creating a new post of special adviser to the Speaker were not  (a) discussed by the House of Commons Commission and  (b) referred to the Finance and Services Committee.

Nick Harvey: The question of personal support staff for Mr. Speaker is a matter for him. No additional financial authority was required for the appointment of a special adviser as the costs are being met within existing budgets.

CABINET OFFICE

Cancer

Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average  (a) one-year and  (b) five-year survival rates for people diagnosed with (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate cancer and (iii) breast cancer has been in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average (a) one year and (b) five year survival rates for people diagnosed with (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate cancer and (iii) breast cancer has been in each of the last 10 years.
	ONS does not publish site-specific cancer survival figures by single year of diagnosis. For statistical reliability, figures are published for three- to five-year periods, to avoid over-interpretation of random year on year fluctuations.
	The latest one- and five-year survival rates available for (i) melanoma, (ii) prostate and (iii) breast cancer arc for persons diagnosed in 2001-2006 and followed up to 2007. These figures arc presented below (Table 1), with figures for each preceding period back to 1998-2001 with follow-up to 2003.
	
		
			  Table 1: One- and five-year age-standardised( 1)  relative cancer survival rates (percentage)( 2) , for melanoma, prostate and breast cancer, adult patients( 3) , England and  Wales( 4) , and England( 5) 
			  Cancer   One-year relative survival (percentage)  Five-year relative survival (percentage) 
			 Melanoma-men 1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 94.2 79.0 
			  1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 94.5 80.5 
			  1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 94.4 80.4 
			  2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 94.5 80.6 
			  2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England 94.9 81.1 
			 
			 Melanoma-women 1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 96.6 88.2 
			  1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 96.9 89.4 
			  1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 97.0 89.4 
			  2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 97.1 89.5 
			  2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England 97.3 89.6 
			 
			 Prostate-men 1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 89.8 70.8 
			  1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 90.9 74.1 
			  1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 91.2 74.4 
			  2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 91.6 75.8 
			  2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England 92.1 77.0 
			 
			 Breast-women 1998-2001, followed up to 2003, England, Wales 93 7 79.9 
			  1999-2002, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 94.0 80.7 
			  1999-2003, followed up to 2004, England, Wales 94.2 81.0 
			  2000-2004, followed up to 2005, England 94.4 81.1 
			  2001-2006, followed up to 2007, England 94.9 82.0 
			 (1) As cancer survival varies with the age at diagnosis, the relative rates for all ages (15-99) have been age-standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time, thus making them comparable with previously published figures (2) Melanoma is defined by code C43, prostate cancer is defined as C61 and breast cancer is defined as C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth edition (ICD-10). (3) Adult patients aged 15-99. (4) Survival rates for patients diagnosed in England and Wales are calculated up to the period 1999-2003 with follow-up to 2004. (5) Survival rates for patients diagnosed in England are available from 2002-2004, with follow-up to 2005.

Central Office of Information: Advertising

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated monetary value is of the contracts to be used under the Central Office of Information's framework for  (a) recruitment advertising,  (b) public notice advertising and  (c) directories advertising over the lifetime of each framework agreement.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member. The letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Central Office of Information: Advertising

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether any guidance has been given to the Central Office of Information on Government advertising in the period at the end of a Parliament and before the issue of writs for a general election;
	(2)  what guidance has been issued to the Central Office of Information on Government advertising and marketing in  (a) the period immediately before a general election and  (b) during a general election campaign.

Angela Smith: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Office issues guidance on the handling of departmental business during the pre-election period, including on advertising and marketing. Until the announcement of the general election, advertising and marketing will be conducted in line with the "Propriety Guidance" for government communications, a copy of which is in the Library of both Houses. It can also be accessed via:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/government_communication/assets/guidance.pdf

Central Office of Information: Video Recordings

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the  (a) title,  (b) description,  (c) purpose and  (d) cost was of each video produced by the Central Office of Information for her Department in the last 12 months.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member. The letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Advertising

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to her Department was of advertising to promote Backing Young Britain in the Metro newspaper on 5 March 2010.

Helen Goodman: I have been asked to reply.
	The cost of Backing Young Britain advertising in the Metro on 5 March was £212,000. The cover wrap ran in 19 cities with a circulation of 1,335,611 and readership of over 3.5 million.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many smoking shelters have been built for her Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Angela Smith: The Cabinet Office built one smoking shelter in the past five years. The cost of the shelter and its installation was £5,500.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much her Department and its agency have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Other than planned work to Cabinet Office buildings as a whole, no specific expenditure has been incurred on rooms for staff leisure.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether her Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Angela Smith: The Cabinet Office does have gym facilities but it is not subsidised. The running costs and equipment are paid for by an external provider through membership subscriptions.

Departmental Computers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1190W, on departmental computers, how many of the Cabinet Office computer keyboards replaced in the last 12 months were for computers located in Downing street.

Angela Smith: None.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by her Department.

Angela Smith: The Cabinet Office has installed voltage optimisation equipment into four buildings on the estate. No other voltage reduction equipment has been installed.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 24 February 2010,  Official Report, column 603W, on departmental freedom of information, what target her Department has set to respond to correspondence  (a) which makes a request for assistance under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and  (b) correspondence asking about the status of a freedom of information request which has already been submitted.

Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office responds to requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the detailed guidance available on the Ministry of Justice's website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/foi-procedural-assistance.htm
	Requests must be responded to promptly or in any event not later than 20 working days following receipt. In certain circumstances this 20 working day deadline can be extended.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Graham Stuart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many  (a) mobile telephones and  (b) BlackBerrys were provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in her Department in 2009; and at what cost to the public purse.

Tessa Jowell: In 2009, six BlackBerrys were provided to Ministers, and five BlackBerrys were provided to special advisers. One mobile telephone is in use by a Minister. This covers the current ministerial team and special advisers and the ministerial team and special advisers prior to the reshuffle in June 2009.
	The cost of these handsets cannot be provided as figures for the 2009-10 financial year will be available only when the Department's resource accounts have been fully audited and laid before Parliament.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 10 November 2009,  Official Report, column 311W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to the inquiry line run by the Office of the Third Sector.

Angela Smith: The inquiry line is staffed by Office of the Third Sector staff and no contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to it.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many agency and temporary staff were employed in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1492W, on departmental temporary staff, how much her Department spent in total on temporary and agency staff in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: Expenditure on temporary and agency staff in each of the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 1,875,000 
			 2007-08 1,720,000 
			 2006-07 3,919,000

Manufacturing Industries

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed in manufacturing in each constituency in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in manufacturing in each constituency in each year since 1997. (324781)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the Annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Due to small sample sizes, accurate estimates of the number of people employed in the manufacturing sector in each parliamentary constituency are not available.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Manufacturing Industries

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many manufacturing enterprises there were in each constituency in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many manufacturing enterprises there were in each constituency in each year since 1997.
	Annual statistics on business counts are available for 2000 onwards from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table provides parliamentary constituency estimates from 2003 onwards. Prior to this year it would only be possible to collate estimates for all constituencies at disproportionate cost.
	A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the written ministerial statement of 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 73W, on special advisers, what the cost was to the public purse of  (a) National Insurance contributions and  (b) other expenditure in respect of special advisers in 2008-09.

Tessa Jowell: The cost of national insurance contributions and other expenditure in respect of special advisers is not held centrally.

Office for National Statistics

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 18 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1032W, on the Office for National Statistics, with what frequency each of the desks at each location are staffed; and how many full-time equivalent staff are allocated to staff the desks at each location.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question pursuant to the Answer to the right hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 18 March 2010, Official Report, column 1032W, on the Office for National Statistics, with what frequency each of the desks at each location are staffed; and how many full-time equivalent staff are allocated to staff the desks at each location. (324692)
	The size of the International Passenger Survey (IPS) operation at each air, sea and international rail site is determined by the volume of traffic. Therefore, the heavier the volume of traffic, the greater the number of IPS shifts operated. Also the higher the density of passengers passing through a particular site, the larger the team of interviewers required to undertake the work.
	The IPS operates at all significant ports of entry/departure in the United Kingdom. At smaller sites, where the operating procedures do not require it, or where conditions do not allow it, desks are not provided.
	The attached table shows a list of the number of shifts and typical staffing levels planned for 2010 at sites with desks. A shift is typically either AM or PM although this does vary across sites as does the mode of operation. An AM shift is normally 0600-1400 and a PM shift 1400-2230.
	
		
			  IPS locations with desks-shifts per annum, number of desks and number of staff required 
			  Site  Shifts per annum  Number of desks  Total number of staff required per shift 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Arrivals 55 1 7 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Departures 91 2 9 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Transit Arrivals 100 1 4 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Transit Departures 50 1 4 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Irish Hub Arrivals 12 0 4 
			 Heathrow Terminal 1 Irish Departures 12 1 4 
			 Heathrow Terminal 3 Arrivals 165 2 10 
			 Heathrow Terminal 3 Departures 228 1 9 
			 Heathrow Terminal 4 Arrivals 92 2 9 
			 Heathrow Terminal 4 Departures 120 2 9 
			 Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrivals 110 2 8 
			 Heathrow Terminal 5 Departures North 147 3 10 
			 Heathrow Terminal 5 Departures South 147 2 7 
			 Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit Arrivals 100 1 4 
			 Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit Departures 50 1 4 
			 
			 Gatwick South Arrivals 55 2 9 
			 Gatwick South Departures 82 1 10 
			 Gatwick North Arrivals 54 1 8 
			 Gatwick North Departures 80 1 10 
			 
			 Manchester Terminal 1 Arrivals 51 1 8 
			 Manchester Terminal 1 Departures 78 1 8 
			 Manchester Terminal 2 Arrivals 84 1 8 
			 Manchester Terminal 2 Departures 92 1 8 
			 
			 Stansted Arrivals 120 1 10 
			 Stansted Departures 140 1 9

Unemployment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people in each  (a) constituency and  (b) local authority area lived in households with no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of people in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area lived in households with no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. (324534)
	The requested information is not available.

Unemployment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in how many and what proportion of households in each  (a) constituency and  (b) local authority area had no-one in full-time employment in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General tor the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of households no-one was in full-time employment in each (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. (324540)
	The requested information is not available.

Unemployment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of children in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) constituency were living in a workless household in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penn e ck:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of children in each (a) local authority area and (b) constituency were living in a workless household in (i) 1997, (ii) 2005 and (iii) the most recent year for which figures are available. (324541)
	Information about children in workless households by (a) constituency and (b) local authority can only be obtained from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. However, due to the specific level of geographic detail you require, there are insufficient numbers in the sample to provide reliable estimates for practicable purposes. This is explained in an article published on the National Statistics website, published in August 2009, titled, "Quality Measures of household labour market indicators". It can be found at the following address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.asp?ID=2272
	The article explains that to provide robust estimates a larger geographical area would be needed and the following web link provides the number and percentage of children in workless households in 2008 for a range of geographic hierarchies across Great Britain:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/WorklessChildren08.xls
	Estimates shaded in grey are such that as mentioned they are not reliable for practical purposes.
	The Annual Population Survey household datasets are only available for 2004 to 2008, so estimates for 1997 cannot be provided. To provide the same information for 2005 as at the above weblink would involve disproportional cost.

Unemployment

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people in  (a) each constituency in the East of England and  (b) the UK were unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of people in (a) each constituency in the East of England and (b) the UK were unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available (324598).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS). However, due to the small sample size, accurate estimates for parliamentary constituencies in the East of England are not available.
	As an alternative, in table 1, we have provided the number and proportion of persons, of working age, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), in February 2010, for each parliamentary constituency in the East of England and the United Kingdom, from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment and unemployment are available from the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number and percentage( 1)  of people claiming jobseeker's allowance resident in the UK and each parliamentary constituency in the East of England, February 2010 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 United Kingdom 1,657,041 4.4 
			
			 Basildon 3,035 5.0 
			 Bedford 3,311 5.3 
			 Billericay 2,386 3.7 
			 Braintree 2,522 3.7 
			 Brentwood and Ongar 1,317 2.6 
			 Broxbourne 2,121 3.7 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 1,563 2.5 
			 Cambridge 1,755 2.3 
			 Castle Point 1,880 3.6 
			 Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 1,456 2.5 
			 Colchester 2,653 3.4 
			 Epping Forest 2,267 3.8 
			 Great Yarmouth 3,866 7.1 
			 Harlow 2,824 5.1 
			 Harwich 3,178 5.7 
			 Hemel Hempstead 2,341 3.9 
			 Hertford and Stortford 1,576 24 
			 Hertsmere 1,867 31 
			 Hitchin and Harpenden 1,360 2.5 
			 Huntingdon 2,030 2.8 
			 Ipswich 3,198 5.5 
			 Luton, North 2,669 4.6 
			 Luton, South 3,684 5.7 
			 Maldon and East Chelmsford 1,603 2.9 
			 Mid-Bedfordshire 1,286 2.0 
			 Mid Norfolk 1,736 2.8 
			 North-East Bedfordshire 1,844 3.0 
			 North-East Cambridgeshire 2,843 4.2 
			 North-East Hertfordshire 1,585 2.7 
			 North Essex 1,413 2.4 
			 North Norfolk 2,051 3.8 
			 North-West Cambridgeshire 2,624 3.8 
			 North-West Norfolk 2,372 4.1 
			 Norwich, North 2,471 3.9 
			 Norwich, South 3,132 4.7 
			 Peterborough 3,900 6.5 
			 Rayleigh 1,398 2.5 
			 Rochford and Southend, East 3,467 6.0 
			 Saffron Walden 1,503 2.4 
			 South Cambridgeshire 1,120 1.8 
			 South East Cambridgeshire 1,542 2.2 
			 South Norfolk 1,777 2.8 
			 South Suffolk 1,377 2.7 
			 South-West Bedfordshire 2,413 3.9 
			 South-West Hertfordshire 1,412 2.3 
			 South-West Norfolk 2,515 3.5 
			 Southend, West 1,964 4.0 
			 St. Albans 1,382 2.5 
			 Stevenage 2,424 4.2 
			 Suffolk, Coastal 1,432 2.6 
			 Thurrock 3,831 53 
			 Watford 2,292 3.5 
			 Waveney 2,905 4.9 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 2,032 3.1 
			 West Chelmsford 2,110 3.1 
			 West Suffolk 1,999 2.8 
			 (1 )Percentage of working age people (men aged 16 to 64, women aged 16 to 59) claiming jobseeker's allowance.   Source:  Jobcentre Plus Administrative System.

Unemployment: Cambridgeshire

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate she has made of the level of long-term unemployment in North-West Cambridgeshire constituency.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the level of long-term unemployment in North-West Cambridgeshire constituency. (324597)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of long-term unemployment for the North- West Cambridgeshire constituency are unavailable.
	As an alternative, we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), for 12 months or greater, resident in the North-West Cambridgeshire constituency. In February 2010 this was 375.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

DEFENCE

New Aircraft Carriers

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the programme for the new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Quentin Davies: Work on the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers is now under way in five UK shipyards-Appledore, Rosyth, Govan, Portsmouth and Tyne. Work is due to start at the sixth and final yard, Birkenhead, in the next few months.
	In addition, equipment sub-contracts to the value of some £1.2 billion have been placed to date, helping to support local economies across the UK.

Defence Spending

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which financial years defence spending decreased in real terms in comparison with the previous year between 1997 and 2009.

Bob Ainsworth: Every spending review since 1997 has awarded Defence a real terms rise over the period it covered and defence spending in cash terms has risen every year since 1997.
	Defence spending declined in real terms in 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2006-07. However, in cash terms defence spending has risen every year since 1997.
	These figures include the costs of operations, which vary significantly from year to year, and are funded from the Reserve. The Treasury has met every request for Urgent Operational Requirements for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Service Veterans: Mental Health

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of long-term mental health support for armed forces veterans.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge).

NATO

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the future of NATO of his Department's policies on European military co-operation.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence's policies on European military co-operation are designed to be both supportive of, and supported by, NATO. Greater coherence and effectiveness on the part of the Europeans can only lead to a stronger Alliance.
	We will continue to work with our European partners at various levels including: bilaterally; in NATO; in the EU; and in the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe, to ensure that Europe can play its role in ensuring a safe and secure world.

Devonport Naval Base

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the role of HM Naval Base Devonport in warship maintenance and repair.

Bill Rammell: On 6 May 2009, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence confirmed that all three naval bases, at Devonport, Portsmouth and on the Clyde, have strong futures and will continue to play a vital role in supporting the Royal Navy. Devonport will retain and enhance its position as the centre of excellence for surface ship and submarine deep maintenance (upkeep) activity. In addition, it will undertake Fleet Time Engineering support for base-ported ships and for visiting sea training vessels.

Afghanistan

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones).

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been deployed within field hospitals during Operation Herrick since April 2009; and how many and what proportion were reservist medical personnel.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of service personnel deployed to field hospitals is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Operation Herrick  Total personnel  of which  r eservists  as a percentage 
			 April to October 2009 136 109 80 
			 October 2009 to April 2010 283, 151 53 
		
	
	It should be noted that reservists deploy for periods of three months rather than six months for regular armed forces personnel. As such, the reservists figures look artificially high because they reflect two three-month deployments rather than one six-month deployment.

Air Space

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions since 2005 foreign military aircraft have entered restricted UK airspace over Na h-Eileanan an Iar without permission;
	(2)  what investigation has been conducted by  (a) the Royal Air Force and  (b) his Department into Russian aircraft flying into restricted UK airspace over Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Bob Ainsworth: No Russian or any other foreign military aircraft have ever entered any part of UK sovereign airspace without permission.
	All events where quick reaction alert aircraft have been launched are routinely collated and analysed by Defence officials.
	The RAF's air defence capability to detect and deter aircraft approaching UK airspace is just one layer of a multi-layered approach that the UK Government take to protect UK and NATO-monitored airspace.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budgetary provision his Department has made in 2010-11 for the conducting, directly or otherwise, of scientific procedures on animals; and how much was spent on this in 2009-10.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence funds an overarching scientific research programme which includes specific aspects which incorporate projects that require studies involving the use of animals. These are undertaken at DSTL Porton Down.
	The DSTL accounting system does not differentiate the proportion of the budget that is spent solely on animal studies.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals of each species were used in scientific procedures  (a) commissioned directly by his Department and  (b) otherwise undertaken pursuant to decisions taken by his Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 167-68W, to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).

Armed Forces: Health Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on long-term care for severely wounded soldiers in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much his Department has allocated to long-term care of severely wounded soldiers in the next 10 years.

Kevan Jones: Members of the armed forces who sustain serious injuries that require long-term care will receive appropriate treatment funded by MOD for as long as they remain in-Service. Funding has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements, including surges in casualty numbers. Funding will come from a wide range of sources and budgets across the three services, and comprehensive financial data for the past five years are not readily available.
	Those who remain in-service will continue to receive medical treatment through the Defence Medical Services as required. Suitable adaptations will be made to both working and service-provided living accommodation if necessary. Ongoing welfare support is also available from the individual's chain of command, through the defence welfare services, and from service charities.
	For those who are medically discharged from the services, their care and its funding then become the responsibility of the NHS. We take steps to enable them to receive the continuing treatment and care that they deserve. In this context, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health informed the House on 11 January 2010,  Official Report, column 15WS, that:
	"A package of measures will be put in place across the NHS to support the increased number of service personnel who have received serious injuries such as loss of limb or brain injuries whilst on active service. This will include new arrangements with the MOD for life care planning together with a guarantee that those seriously injured and needing continuing health care will receive ongoing high quality care for life based on an early and comprehensive assessment and regular review of their needs overseen by an NHS case manager".

Armed Forces: Health Services

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, column 953W, whether a complete set of data on the extent to which armed forces medical personnel are in breach of the single service harmony guidelines is now available.

Kevan Jones: Army data have now been collected but analysis of the information is not yet complete.

Armed Forces: Interpreters

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military linguists proficient in  (a) Pashto and  (b) Dari are employed by his Department; and how many of each have been employed by his Department in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   Pashto  Dari 
			   Higher level  Lower level  Higher level  Lower level 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 10 0 0 
			 2004 0 10 0 0 
			 2005 0 10 0 0 
			 2006 0 50 0 10 
			 2007 10 140 0 20 
			 2008 30 150 <5 40 
			 2009 40 720 <5 60 
			 2010 (now) 40 (1)1,200 <5 (1)200 
			 (1) Approximately 
		
	
	Employed is interpreted as serving in HM armed forces. The figures above reflect serving personnel with current language skills; account has been taken of personnel who have left HM armed forces with language skills and those who no longer have currency in their language skills.
	Higher level training enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians. Figures for 2010 are approximate, based on forecast training output for the first three months. The number being trained at the lower level in both languages will increase significantly during 2010. Higher level Pashto and Dari numbers will also increase in 2010 as courses are completed.

Departmental Buildings

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many personnel are based in commercial properties rented by his Department in the West of Scotland;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse was of commercial properties rented by his Department in the West of Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the locations are of each commercial property rented by his Department in the West of Scotland;
	(4)  how many commercial properties his Department rents in the West of Scotland.

Kevan Jones: Our records indicate that there are 10 other commercial properties currently being rented in the West of Scotland at the following locations and cost per annum. I also include the current number of defence personnel working at each site where this is known:
	
		
			  Location  Number of personnel based in location  Rent (£) 
			 Brown Carrick Hill Radio Station - 7,755 
			 HMS Gannet-Greensite (Prestwick) 103 727,129 
			 Dumbarton Armed Forces Careers Office 4 43,632 
			 Paisley Armed Forces Careers Office 4 18,786 
			 Greenock Armed Forces Careers Office 4 8,400 
			 Glasgow-Cerium Building 86 749,593 
			 Glasgow-Armed Forces Careers Office 18 318,059 
			 Glasgow-Army Personnel Centre Store 50 383,305 
			 Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Sq 7 135,125 
			 Glasgow-Met Office Equipment Store 4 12,780 
		
	
	For completeness, the MOD also rents some commercial Substitute Service Family Accommodation for personnel but I have not included details here.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Veterans (Mr. Jones), on 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 378W, to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes).

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on promotional items must be necessary, appropriate, cost effective and an admissible charge to public funds.

Departmental Security

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many valid civilian passes granting access to his Department's London buildings have been issued to employees of private defence companies in the last 12 months.

Kevan Jones: Records show that in the last 12 months, there were 137 passes issued to employees of companies identified by us as "private defence companies". We have defined "private defence companies" as those we can readily identify as being primarily suppliers of weapon systems or defence materiel to the Department.
	These passes only allow access to MOD Head Office (Main Building, Old War Office and St. George's Court) and are issued to individuals who hold appropriate security clearances, have a genuine business need to regularly visit one of these London Offices and have been sponsored by a Head Office Business Unit. Figures are not held centrally for passes issued in respect of other MOD London buildings.

Departmental Security

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to employees of which private defence companies have civilian passes granting access to his Department's London buildings been issued since 1 January 2008.

Kevan Jones: Since 1 January 2008, building passes have been issued to employees of the private defence companies as listed. We have defined private defence companies as those we can readily identify as being primarily suppliers of weapon systems or defence materiel to the Department.
	Augusta Westland
	Babcock
	BAE Systems
	Boeing Defence UK
	Cubic Defence Systems
	EADS Defence and Security System
	General Dynamics UK
	J&S Marine
	Lockheed Martin
	MBDA Missile Systems
	Niteworks
	Northrop Grumman
	Pearson Engineering
	QinetiQ
	Raytheon Systems
	Roke Manor Research
	Smiths Detection
	Thales
	Vega Group
	Vosper Thornycroft
	These passes only allow access to Ministry of Defence Head Office (Main Building, Old War Office and St. George's Court) and are issued to individuals who hold appropriate security clearances, have a genuine business need to regularly visit one of these London Offices and have been sponsored by a Head Office Business Unit. Details are not held centrally for passes issued in respect of other MOD London buildings.

Future Rapid Effect System

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his statement of 22 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on armed forces equipment, whether the base platform for the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is now finalised for all aspects of the FRES programme; whether there will be further opportunities for unsuccessful bidders to bid for later variants; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rapid Effect System programme has been recast from a single programme into a coherent set of constituent projects namely: the Specialist Vehicles; the Utility Vehicles; and the Manoeuvre Support Vehicles. The Secretary of State's announcement on 22 March 2010 related to the Specialist Vehicle project, for which the MOD intends to use a Common Base Platform as a base vehicle onto which specific sub-systems, such as the 40 mm Cannon, can be integrated to meet the various Specialist Vehicle roles.
	The Utility Vehicle and Manoeuvre Support projects are still in their Assessment Phases and the potential options to deliver these capabilities continue to be developed. No decisions have therefore been made regarding the platforms to be used for the Utility Vehicles or Manoeuvre Support Vehicles, or the companies that will provide them.

Gurkhas: Immigration

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which Gurkha welfare organisations the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Gurkha settlement policy has consulted;
	(2)  on how many occasions the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Gurkha settlement policy has met;
	(3)  who leads the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Gurkha settlement policy.

Kevan Jones: The Cross-Departmental Working Group was set up following the announcement on 21 May 2009 of the new immigration rules for retired Gurkhas. It has met formally on three occasions, twice in 2009 and once so far this year. The working group is jointly chaired by the Command Secretary, Headquarters Land Forces and the Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency. The Ministry of Defence leads across Government on Gurkha settlement issues, although most work is conducted multilaterally between Government Departments, local authorities, pressure groups and other agencies.
	The working group has consulted with a wide range of welfare organisations in the course of its work, including the main service charities: the Gurkha Welfare Trust; the Royal British Legion; ABF The Soldiers' Charity; the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association; and Veterans Aid. Informal consultations and briefings have also been held with the ex-Gurkha servicemen's organisation in the UK and in Nepal, including: the British Gurkha Welfare Society; the Regimental Associations Nepal; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation; the United British Gurkhas Ex-Servicemen's Association Nepal; the Gurkha United Forum; and the Nepal Ex-Servicemen's Association.

Port Agency Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what due diligence tests were conducted prior to the award of the contract for Port Agency Service (FLEET/OPS/0020), with particular reference to  (a) credit checks,  (b) risk assessment,  (c) ownership, including related shareholdings and  (d) transparency of company structures and accounts; and what methodology was used to conduct those tests;
	(2)  by what  (a) method,  (b) criteria and  (c) through which Agency the Department assessed the security and associated risk profile of those companies who submitted bids for the contract for Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020); and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether, when awarding the contract for Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020), a requirement was stipulated that the contractor would need to demonstrate that their work would not be exposed to advanced notice of ship and submarine movements globally; and if he will make a statement.
	(4)  by what method and against what criteria his Department evaluated the tender submissions and related documents in respect of the Provision of Port Agency Services (FLEET/OPS/0020); if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation setting out the criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: holding answer 25 March 2010
	Prior to award of the contract for Port Agency Services the Department undertook a tendering process with assessment conducted in two stages:
	a pre-qualification assessment, utilising a standardised Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) to select from the companies who had expressed an interest, those that would be invited to tender; and
	assessment of tenders received against the award criteria set out in the Special Notices and Instructions issued with Invitation to Tender dated 28 January 2008.
	A copy of the PQQ and the Special Notices and Instructions will be placed in the Library of the House.
	The PQQ sought details on such matters as technical capability, financial standing, ownership and company structures. Technical, financial and security matters were considered before a company was invited to tender for the requirement. This assessment was informed by reference to company specific reports procured from a reputable private sector business information supplier. Companies invited to tender for the contract were taken from a list of "Approved Defence Contractors" and, where necessary, were afforded provisional List-X Status by the Defence Procurement Agency for the purposes of complying with the Security Aspects of the tender bidding process.
	The tender assessment was conducted by appropriate Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and civilian subject matter experts. The results of these assessments were collated and considered by a Tender Assessment Panel chaired by a senior commercial officer which recommended the award decision based on the evidence of the assessment.
	After the tendering process was complete, an agreement on the detailed handling of sensitive material was reached with the successful bidder, implementing the more general security requirements set out in the contract documents. This agreement recognised that some sensitive information would need to be disclosed to suppliers of services in sufficient time to enable those services to be provided in a timely manner.

Royal Irish Regiment: Reserve Forces

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers who served with the Royal Irish Regiment transferred to Territorial Army units following disbandment of the Home Service battalions.

Bill Rammell: According to unit records, to date approximately 340 personnel who served with the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions have transferred or enlisted into Territorial Army units based in Northern Ireland following the Home Service Battalions' disbandment. This estimate does not include two squadrons of the newly formed 32 Signal Regiment (V), as the records of these squadrons are currently in the process of being transferred to their new units and are currently unavailable for scrutiny.

Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the delivery of  (a) each Astute class and  (b) Trident successor submarine; what effect the delay in delivery of the former will have on delivery of the latter; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 25 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 54-55WS. Of the seven planned Astute class submarines, the first four boats have been ordered. Boat one (Astute) is currently undergoing an extensive programme of sea trials while boats two to four (Ambush, Artful, and Audacious) are in various stages of construction. We have decided to proceed with the initial build work on boat five and to order the long lead items for boat six. The delivery timetable for the class is currently being re-baselined.
	We are continuing to target an in-service date for the first Trident successor submarine of 2024, as set out in the White Paper 'The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent' (Cm6994). The precise delivery schedule will be determined at Main Gate, currently scheduled for 2014.
	The Ministry of Defence and industry are evaluating the lessons from the first boats in the Astute programme and will ensure that there is appropriate sequencing between the Astute and successor programmes to ensure that continuous at sea deterrence can be maintained. We do not expect delays in the Astute programme to affect the timetable for the delivery of the Trident successor submarines.

Sweet Concepts

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer by the Cabinet Office Minister of 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 156W, on the Central Office of Information: marketing, what the  (a) type and  (b) cost was of the promotional food and confectionery purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. by the Royal Air Force.

Quentin Davies: RAF purchases of food or confectionary via the Central Office of Information contract with Sweet Concepts Ltd., are as follows:
	
		
			  (£) 
			   Product  Cost (excluding VAT) 
			 2008 Mints 650 
			 2009 Mints 800 
			 2009 Aeroplane Shaped Sweets 900 
			 2010 Mints 800

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Corruption

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has commissioned or assessed any internal or external reports on the effectiveness of its work to tackle corruption in Afghanistan.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is contributing £6 million to the Accountability and Transparency (ACT) project managed by the United Nations Development Programme. ACT provides support to the Afghan anti-corruption watchdog, the High Office of Oversight. The project has been in operation for less than one year and so no formal assessment has yet been completed.
	In May 2009, DFID and other partners undertook six "Vulnerabilities to Corruption Assessments", the results of which are available at:
	http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFGHANISTANEXTN/Resources/305984-1237085035526/5919769-1249254211329/VCAsSummaryReportFinalJuly172009.pdf.

Afghanistan: Corruption

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to combat corruption in Afghanistan.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the HMG Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF), established as the primary means of ensuring UK anti-corruption work is well co-ordinated internally, with major donors and Afghan and international civil society organisations. Through the MATF, the UK is taking the following actions:
	We are providing £6 million to UNDP's Accountability and Transparency Project, making us the largest supporter of the High Office of Oversight (HOO). The UK will work with the HOO and responsible line Ministries on reform of the public procurement system and Government permits, especially for construction.
	We are providing mentors to help make the Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF) a transparent and effective 'end to end' judicial process handling cases of kidnap, organised crime and the most serious corruption offences.
	We will continue to provide training, mentoring and salary support for prosecutors working within the Anti Corruption Unit of the MCTF and will help establish an Anti Corruption Tribunal.
	Reconstruction contracts issued by DFID already contain 'no bribery' clauses that apply equally to all contractors and subcontractors. Our commitment to investigate any international contracted by the UK Government and suspected of corruption remains unchanged.
	The London Conference on Afghanistan, in January 2010, provided increased momentum in the fight against corruption. We are working with the international community to support the Afghan Government in delivering its new anti-corruption strategy.

Baltic States: Politics and Government

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Baltic and Black Sea areas; what recent reports he has received on the sale by France to Russia of four Mistral helicopter-carrying warships; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We keep the politico-military balance in the Baltic and Black sea areas under close observation. We have discussed with France her intention to consider the export of Mistral ships to Russia. We are aware of concerns about the sale expressed by some countries in both the Baltic and the Black sea regions. France, like the UK, is bound by the same export control regulations, the EU Criteria, in approving or refusing any defence export. These take into account the impact on regional stability.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 25 March 2010
	 This information is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to Questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not recently answered questions about hon. Members' constituencies in this way.

Diplomatic Service

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his overseas counterparts the matter of the abuse of domestic workers employed by overseas embassies in the UK.

Chris Bryant: Yes, we have, we do and we will.

Embassies: Festivals and Special Occasions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his Department's policy that British missions overseas should hold celebrations to mark the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen as a part of their diplomatic and trade promotion activities; and which missions will be holding such an event in 2010.

Chris Bryant: No records are held centrally of local celebrations of HM the Queen's birthday and the frequency and precise nature of such events is at the discretion of the head of mission.

Iran: Foreign Relations

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of UK relations with Iran; what plans he has for the future of UK-Iran relations; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: UK-Iran relations are hindered by the Iranian authorities' harassment of our embassy in Tehran and their insistence on blaming the UK for all of Iran's problems. We will continue to seek to engage the Iranian authorities on the many important issues of concern, including Iran's nuclear programme, human rights abuses and restrictions on civil liberties, and Iran's role in the region. We will also continue to press for a satisfactory resolution to the bilateral issues between us, including the arrest of embassy staff in Tehran.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the special investigation and prosecution team to report on alleged corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Chris Bryant: Investigations by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team are ongoing and it is not possible to estimate how long these, and any subsequent prosecutions, would take.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UN Security Council has been briefed on the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara by the UN Secretary-General's special envoy on Western Sahara in 2010.

Ivan Lewis: The UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Western Sahara regularly briefs the Security Council on developments in the conflict of Western Sahara, including the human rights situation. The current Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, last briefed the Security Council on 18 February. Ambassador Ross holds regular discussions with members of the Security Council on a range of issues related to the conflict.
	The Secretary-General will submit his report on the latest developments in Western Sahara to the Security Council in advance of the renewal of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate at the end of April.

World War Two: Genocide

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the policy of the government of Germany on release of files on  (a) Nazi war criminals and  (b) Adolf Eichmann; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The case to which my hon. Friend refers is currently being considered by the German Federal Administrative Court; it is therefore a matter for the Court and the German Government.

JUSTICE

British Constitution

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 624W, on democratic reform, on what date the National Deliberative Event was held; who attended the event; which firms were contracted to organise the event; and at what cost to the public purse.

Michael Wills: The National Deliberative Event was held on Saturday 20 February 2010. An independent report by TNS-BMRB on the programme of engagement will be published shortly and shows that such deliberative approaches were valued by what were demographically representative groups of participants as a means of building public views into policy making. It shows there is a clear appetite to take further these aspects of the debate on constitutional reform: stating the values that bind us together as a nation, building on the existing protections for individual rights and clarifying our responsibilities.
	The following persons attended the event:
	110 members of the public (selected statistically to reflect the makeup of the population of the UK) who attended previous deliberative events in October and November 2009.
	Myself.
	Five officials from the Ministry of Justice and one from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	The contracts for these events were awarded to TNS-BMRB, a social research organisation, who developed and delivered the recruitment and research elements of the programme (including chairing the events), and M-is, an events agency, who organised the practical arrangements for the events, including venue hire and participants travel and accommodation.
	There were eight deliberative events in total between October 2009 and February 2010: five regional events, two reconvened events and one national event. The total cost for all eight events is £842,111.35. The Government do not hold information on the disaggregated costs for the National Deliberative event as individual costings for each of the eight events were not stipulated in the contractual arrangements.
	A copy of the independent report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course.

British Constitution

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 12 November 2009,  Official Report, column 624W, on democratic reform, what the cost to the public purse was of the five deliberative events; which companies were contracted to organise the events and to conduct the opinion research; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the findings of the opinion research conducted.

Michael Wills: There were eight deliberative events between October 2009 and February 2010: five regional events, two reconvened events and one national event. An independent report by TNS-BMRB on the programme of engagement will be published shortly and shows that such deliberative approaches were valued by what were demographically representative groups of participants as a means of building public views into policy making. It shows there is a clear appetite to take further these aspects of the debate on constitutional reform: stating the values that bind us together as a nation, building on the existing protections for individual rights and clarifying our responsibilities.
	The total cost for all eight events is £842,111.35. The Government do not hold information on the disaggregated costs for the five regional events as individual costings for each of the events were not stipulated in the contractual arrangements.
	The contracts for these events were awarded to TNS-BMRB, a social research organisation, who developed and delivered the recruitment and research elements of the programme (including chairing the events), and M-is, an events company, who organised the practical arrangements for the events including venue hire and participants travel and accommodation.
	A copy of the independent report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course.

Courts: Aberystwyth

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on the development of a new court building in Aberystwyth.

Bridget Prentice: The HMCS Asset Management Committee approved the Aberystwyth court building scheme to proceed to Full Business Case on 24 March 2010. It is hoped that a further announcement will be made in summer 2010.

Custodial Treatment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to the public purse was of detaining  (a) an adult and  (b) a person under the age of 21 years old in custody for a year on the latest date for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: For 2008-09, for prison establishments managed by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the average cost per prisoner in an "adult" prison (for this purpose adult is over 21 years) was £39,600 and in a young offender institution was £53,400.
	The above average costs comprise the expenditure on public and private prisons (as recorded in the NOMS agency annual report and accounts), increased by an apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in the regions by NOMS. This involves some estimation. In addition, expenditure met centrally by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) is included. The figures do not include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government Departments (e.g. Health and Education). The prisoner escort service costs are included. Where the costs of young people are recharged by NOMS to the YJB, expenditure is shown gross and not reduced by income from the YJB. Where a site includes adults and prisoners under 21, costs are allocated to the major use.
	Secure training centres and secure children's homes, the responsibility of the YJB, also fall into the under 21 years category. The YJB calculates annual figures for the cost of places in each type of establishment in the under-18 secure estate. As at 1 April 2009, these were as follows:
	
		
			   Average annual cost per place (£) 
			 Secure children's home 215,000 
			 Secure training centre 160,000 
			 Note: VAT is not included in these figures

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice's buildings are smoke free. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has not constructed any smoking shelters on its London HQ building estate in the last five years.
	Smoking shelters do exist within the Ministry of Justice's specialist estate. However central records of the construction of smoking shelters across the MOJ estate are not held and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what property has been recorded as  (a) lost and  (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property.

Jack Straw: With the exception of HM Prison Service, details of individual cases of lost and stolen property are held at a local level across the Department. Occurrences of theft or loss are reportable to the central security team and amount to 354 incidents during the period 1 January to 31 December 2009.
	To determine whether these occurrences relate to theft or loss and to estimate a replacement cost would involve a review of individual local records which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Separate records are kept by Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS), which is part of the National Offender Management Service agency. For the 12 month period 1 January to 31 December 2009 the value of lost or stolen property was £310,078. This comprises:
	lost or stolen items: 1,178 instances at a total value of £194,609 of which 1,177 instances were for losses of stores at a value of £194,549;
	loss of personal property for which compensation was paid to prisoners, staff or third parties: 1,982 payments at a total value of £123,468.
	These figures are currently unaudited. A full stock count will be undertaken at the end of the financial year 31 March 2010.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Jack Straw: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.
	Once the general election is announced, the expectation is that reports which have not been pre-announced and are not yet ready for publication will be delayed until after the purdah period. This includes Ministry of Justice social research reports which are not routinely pre-announced.
	I also refer the right hon. Member to the statement released by the Ministry of Justice's chief statistician on 19 March 2010 regarding the release of youth justice statistics. A copy of the statement is available at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/youth-justice-statistics.htm

Departmental Senior Civil Servants

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many grade 2 civil servants are employed in his Department.

Michael Wills: There are 74,000 full-time equivalent members of staff in the Ministry of Justice, of which 10 are grade 2 (SCS Payband 3) senior civil servants.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 27 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 331-32W, on departmental telephone services, whether contracts were awarded for the provision of services relating to the helplines.

Bridget Prentice: Of the helplines listed in my earlier answer, contracts have been awarded in respect of the following services: the Community Legal Advice helpline, Criminal Defence Service Direct, the Duty Solicitor Call Centre, the National Mediation Helpline, the Family Mediation Helpline and the Nacro Resettlement Plus helpline.

Departmental Translation Service

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on translation services in the justice system in  (a) Ribble Valley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice was formed on 9 May 2007. Information is available for two complete financial years, 2007-08 and 2008-09. Data for 2009-10 will be available in summer when annual accounts have been prepared and audited.
	 Expenditure on translation services in Ribble Valley and Lancashire by the Department and its agencies.
	There has been no expenditure recorded within Ribble Valley and Lancashire by HM Courts Service. Information for other parts of the Department is not recorded on a regional basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 Expenditure on translation services in England by the Department and its agencies
	HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service are able to isolate expenditure in England which is as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			 HM Courts Service (HMCS)(1) 10 27 
			 Tribunals Service 39 53 
			 (1) This figures represents expenditure by Crown courts only as no central records are maintained that breakdown expenditure by magistrates courts. 
		
	
	Other parts of the Department do not maintain records in a way that would enable expenditure in England to be separately identified from expenditure in Wales or Scotland. Total expenditure is shown as follows and will include the cost of translating documents under the Welsh language scheme.
	
		
			  £000 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			 Ministry of Justice HQ 273 388 
			 National Offenders Management Service-interpretation and translation(1) 868 966 
			 Office of the Public Guardian(2) 25 25 
			 (1 )This figure includes translation costs as well as interpretation costs. The amounts are not separately recorded and can be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. Additionally, the NOMS figure excludes expenditure by the National Probation Service which is held locally by 42 probation boards and trusts who use separate and different accounting systems. Information could be determined only at disproportionate cost through examination of local records. (2 )Figures for the Office of Public Guardian are an estimate of the translation component within a wider category of expenditure. 
		
	
	Interpretation and translation services are provided on the basis of need. Costs are kept to a minimum and, when translation and interpretation services are taken together across all territories served by the Ministry of Justice, expenditure has not risen in recent years.

EC Action: Children

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the 1996 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children is ratified by all EU member states before 5 June 2010 in accordance with Council Decision 2008/431/EC of 5 June 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Eight EU member states are already Contracting States to the Convention. Council Decision 2008/431/EC authorised the UK and other remaining EU member states to ratify or accede to the convention, and requires the simultaneous deposit of their instruments of ratification or accession, if possible before 5 June 2010.
	In November 2009 the UK expected to conclude its legislative process by June 2010. Under the convention this would have enabled implementation three months later, on 1 October 2010.
	However, it will not now be possible for the UK to complete its implementing legislation as intended in June 2010. The intention now is to have all necessary legislation in place to enable the UK to ratify by 16 July 2010 after the general election. Implementation would then follow on 1 November. Whether ratification can take place then is, however, dependent on the position of the remaining EU member states. The Council Secretariat has called for an update from member states for discussion at the May General Questions meeting of the Council's Committee on Civil Law Matters.
	The UK remains firmly committed to ratification and implementation of this important convention and is working to achieve this.

Electoral Register: Freedom of Information

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons electoral registration officers are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: The generally held view is that the office of Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is distinct from the local authority that appoints them, and that EROs are therefore not currently within scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("the FOI Act").
	In order to come within the scope of the FOI Act, EROs would need to be designated by a section 5 Order under that Act or through an amendment to the primary legislation.
	The Government conducted a public consultation between 25 October 2007 and 1 February 2008 to seek views on which bodies might be included within the scope of the FOI Act by way of a section 5 Order. This would be the first such order made under the FOI Act. Electoral Registration Officers were not identified as part of this consultation, or in the responses, as candidates for inclusion.
	The list of bodies proposed for inclusion in this first section 5 Order is:
	Academy schools
	Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
	Financial Ombudsman Service
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
	However, the Government made clear in their response to the consultation, published on 16 July 2009, that the first section 5 Order would be an initial step, and that the extension of the FOI Act would be kept under review. I have asked my officials to undertake further work to examine the potential for the FOI Act to be extended to EROs, and to consult the relevant parties on this issue.

Electoral Register: Houseboats

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to ensure that residents of boats without a postcoded address are able to register to vote without having to declare themselves homeless.

Michael Wills: If a boat, houseboat or other residence has a permanent mooring it is treated by registration officers as a permanent dwelling in which an elector may be resident for registration purposes, and residents can be registered as electors in the standard way.
	If the boat or other residence does not have a permanent mooring, then it is open to the resident(s) to make a 'Declaration of Local Connection' for the purposes of registering to vote. The residents should register at a place where they spend the most time or where they have some connection, such as the area where they were last permanently registered or any boatyard they may use for maintenance.
	The provisions are designed to support participation in the electoral process by recognising that there will be some individuals who are unable to supply a fixed address, but are nonetheless eligible to register and vote. Electors registered by means of a local connection may vote using the same methods as ordinary electors. We have no current plans to amend the relevant legislation.
	The Electoral Commission has published guidance for electoral registration officers on these provisions.

Employment Tribunals Service: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people living in City of York  (a) in total and  (b) with less than two years employment won unfair dismissal claims in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available; and how much on average was paid out in such claims in each such year.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is either no longer held, or is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In relation to information on cases in 1997, while the Tribunals Service continues to hold certain statistical data, it is not possible to interrogate those data on the basis of, for example, residency of one or more of the parties involved. The case details held in local employment tribunal offices are anonymised and archived one year after the disposal of the proceedings.
	In relation to cases involving employees with less than two years employment, that information is only recorded on individual employment tribunal claim forms. Those forms are kept in hard copy in each local office and information is not entered onto IT systems. Therefore, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In relation to the most recent data concerning unfair dismissal judgments, data are not held centrally in respect of where individual claimants live.
	The allocation of claims to all Employment Tribunal office is determined by the postcode of the respondent against whom the claim has been brought. Employment tribunal claims brought by people living in the City of York may, therefore, depending on the business address of the respondent, be made in any Employment Tribunal office in England, Wales or Scotland. Therefore, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, information was sought from the two offices which deal with employment tribunal cases with respondents (i.e. employers) based in York (Leeds and Newcastle).
	Those data have been interrogated to identify the number of successful unfair dismissal awards brought against respondents with a work address with a YO postcode. This shows that in the period 23 March 2009 to 22 March 2010, 35 successful unfair dismissal claims were brought against respondents whose postcode began with YO. The average award was £4,832.51.

Fines: Non-Payment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people served a custodial sentence for the non-payment of fines in England and Wales in each financial year since April 2005.

Maria Eagle: Figures showing the numbers of prisoners received into all prison establishments in England and Wales in the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 (the latest year for which data are available) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Fine defaulter first receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales 2005-08 
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2005-06 1,994 
			 2006-07 1,605 
			 2007-08 1,433 
		
	
	First receptions are an estimate of the number of prisoners entering the Criminal Justice System by individual offence in a given time period.
	Offenders may be committed to prison for fine default: their sentence remains a fine.
	Imprisonment for non-payment of a financial penalty remains the ultimate sanction for the most wilful defaulters. However, only after the court has considered or tried all other methods of enforcing payment of the sum and it appears to the court that they are inappropriate or unsuccessful. The court must also be convinced that the person has either "wilfully refused" to pay or have been "culpably neglectful" which means the person has had the means to pay but have simply neglected to pay.
	These figures are a sub-set of first reception data in the first line of table 6.1 in Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2008, adjusted from a calendar year to a financial year basis. They have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

General Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 3 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1246W, on general elections, whether any local authority which counted votes on the evening of the 2005 general election was not refunded for the full staff costs of counting on that evening.

Michael Wills: The Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that the Secretary of State will pay the reasonable costs of returning officers for the conduct of elections-including for the count-as long as they are necessary for the efficient and effective conduct of the poll. Where a claim for costs in relation to any aspect of the conduct of the poll does not satisfy this statutory test then it would not be met. Information about whether this happened in respect of the costs of the count process specifically in relation to any of the 569 claims from returning officers in England and Wales in 2005 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I am not aware, however, that any returning officer was provided with insufficient funding for the count at the 2005 general election.

Human Trafficking: Confiscation Orders

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many confiscation orders there were against convicted traffickers between 1 April 2009 and 31 January 2010; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of savings to the public purse as a result.

Claire Ward: The available information is provided in the following table. The figures shown in the table relate solely to cases recorded on the Ministry of Justice courts proceedings database where an offence of Human trafficking or Drug trafficking was the principal offence for which the offender was sentenced and where the confiscation order was made at the point of sentence. It is possible that a confiscation order will be made in a separate court appearance following sentence. These cases are not included in this answer so it is possible the true number of confiscation orders is higher than presented here.
	Data for 2008 have been provided as data for 2009 and 2010 are not yet available. Sentencing data for 2009 will be published later this year.
	No estimates of likely levels of savings to the public purse relating specifically to confiscation orders for trafficking are known to have been calculated by the Ministry of Justice.
	50 per cent. of money recovered is given back to the operational bodies to drive up asset recovery work. 50 per cent. is retained by the Home Office for core funding including the Regional Assets Recovery Team. This money represents an addition to budgets rather than a saving and is important in providing extra resources to take proceeds off the criminals.
	
		
			  Confiscation orders issued for drug( 1)  or people trafficking( 2) , 2008 
			   Drug trafficking  People trafficking 
			 Total confiscation orders (number) (1)1,486 0 
			 Amount confiscated (£) (1)20,529,373 n/a 
			 n/a = not applicable (1) This includes drug offences relating to importation and exportation, supply, production and other relevant drug offences. These figures have been taken from table 4.10 of Sentencing Statistics 2008. (2) Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation Trafficking people Into the UK for the purpose of exploitation Trafficking people within the UK for the purpose of exploitation Trafficking people out of the UK  Note: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe. 3. Sentencing data are usually based on the principal offence and the primary disposal for that offence. A confiscation order is an ancillary disposal usually given alongside the main sentence, these results show the number and amount for confiscation orders given as any one of four disposals recorded against a principal offence of trafficking.

National Offender Management Service: Manpower

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons are employed at the National Offender Management Service  (a) head office and  (b) regional offices; how many such employees have (i) a probation background and (ii) a prison background; and how many such employees are career civil servants.

Maria Eagle: The prison and probation services operate within the framework of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency. For historical reasons the two services have different employment structures. Prison Service staff are civil servants and are directly employed by the NOMS agency. Probation service staff are not civil servants and are employed by a probation board or trust.
	Information on the career histories of National Offender Management Service headquarters (NOMS) staff does not include national probation service (NPS) experience. It is therefore not possible to provide figures of how many NOMS headquarters staff have a NPS background. Career history information that is available shows that 1,776 NOMS headquarters staff have previous experience in Prison Service establishments and are considered to have a prison background, although not all would have worked with offenders.
	All NOMS headquarters staff other than those seconded from the NPS are civil servants. On 31 December 2009 there were 4,375 directly employed civil servants in national and regional offices and the shared service centre.

Newspaper Licensing Agency

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have paid to the Newspaper Licensing Agency in each year to date.

Michael Wills: The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the right to control the ways in which their material may be used.
	Under this Act, the Newspaper Licensing Agency provides businesses and other organisations with permission to share and copy newspaper content through the sale of a licence.
	The level of licence fee payable to the Newspapers Licensing Agency comprises a basic fee payable by all users and a variable element that depends on the size of the organisation, determined by the number of staff employed or by turnover, and the number of titles to which access is required.
	The Ministry of Justice is a major department of state that receives a high level of press coverage. It is essential that press coverage of the Department and the wider criminal justice arena is monitored and disseminated on a daily basis.
	 The Department
	The central Communications directorate within the Ministry of Justice's headquarters is responsible for most communications across the Ministry of Justice group, including its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
	Judicial communications are managed by a separate Judicial Communications Office (JCO). Expenditure with the Newspaper Licensing Agency since the Department was established in May 2007 by the central Communications directorate and JCO is as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 2007-08 23 
			 2008-09 84 
			 2009-10 (to 28 February 2010) 128 
		
	
	Licences are paid in advance and adjusted in arrears where actual staff or turnover would have led to a different licence fee being due. The 2007-08 fee was based on the staffing levels within the smaller predecessor Department, the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
	From September 2009, the Department awarded a new contract for "media cuts" which included access to digital cuts for the first time. As a result of this, the Department's licence with the Newspaper Licensing Agency was extended to include digital licence fees. For 2009-10 these additional costs were £44,289.05 and covered the period from mid-September to the end of the financial year. The use of digital media allows far more staff to access information and helps reduce paper.
	 Agencies
	The Ministry of Justice has four executive agencies: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian. Only HMCS and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have incurred expenditure with the Newspaper Licensing Agency.
	
		
			  £000 
			   HMCS  OPG 
			 2007-08 6 2 
			 2008-09 6 2 
			 2009-10 (to  28 February 2010) 2 2

Offenders: Sentencing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pre-sentencing reports were requested in relation to offences of  (a) false documentation,  (b) assisting in the running of a brothel,  (c) soliciting or loitering and  (d) cannabis cultivation between 1 April 2009 and 31 January 2010.

Claire Ward: Figures showing the numbers of pre-sentence reports that were issued in the period between 1 April 2009 and 30 September 2009, the latest date for which figures have been published for the offences indicated, are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Forging vehicle or driving documents 49 
			 Keeping brothel 13 
			 Loitering/soliciting 7 
			 Procuration 14 
			 Soliciting woman from motor vehicle 1 
			 Supply Class B drug 490 
			 All other offences 115,636 
			 All 116,210 
		
	
	These are a reworking of figures available at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/probation quarterly.htm
	Information on cannabis cultivation is not held separately; only offences involving driver and vehicle documentation are included.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Pay

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 40WS, on emoluments, when he made the statement on emoluments.

Jack Straw: No statement on emoluments has yet been made.

Pleural Plaques

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the written ministerial statement of 25 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 79-83WS, on pleural plaques, when he expects to announce the full details of the Pleural Plaques Former Claimants' Payment Scheme; who will be eligible for such payments; how the scheme will be operated; on what date he expects the scheme to be operational; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Detailed arrangements for the extra-statutory payment scheme on pleural plaques are in the process of being finalised and will be announced in due course. In the meantime, a helpline has been set up to provide information and advice for people inquiring as to whether they qualify for a payment under this scheme. The helpline number is 020 3334 3334.

Prison Sentences

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are serving a sentence of less than  (a) one year,  (b) two years and  (c) four years for (i) homicide, (ii) rape, (iii) attempted rape and (iv) a sexual offence involving children.

Jack Straw: The following table gives figures as at 30 June 2009, the latest date of publication for which these figures are available, showing the determinate sentence length bands requested for the total number of prisoners in all prison establishments in England and Wales serving sentences for (i) murder, conspiracy to murder, manslaughter and (ii) rape. Separate figures are not available for attempted rape.
	
		
			  Number of prisoners serving less than four years for specific offences 
			  Sentence length  Murder  Conspire, aid, and incite to murder  Manslaughter  Causing death by reckless driving  Rape  Gross indecency, indecent assault of a child 
			 Less than one year 0 0 0 2 21 5 
			 1 to less than 2 years 0 0 7 26 13 34 
			 2 to less than 4 years 0 3 62 104 104 165 
		
	
	The table also shows number of prisoners serving determinate sentences for (iv) gross indecency with children. However, it is not possible to give a comprehensive total of sexual offence cases which involve offences against children, as other categories of offences do not define the age of the victim. To answer this part of the question comprehensively would involve a manual search of all the relevant prison records, at disproportionate cost.
	The courts must impose a mandatory life sentence on any individual convicted of murder. This is the only sentence available for such a conviction.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoner Escapes

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford  (a) escaped,  (b) absconded and  (c) failed to return in each month since 1 January 2007; what category of offences had been committed by each of those prisoners; what the term of custodial sentence was of each; on what date each (i) left and (ii) was returned to prison; and what sanction was imposed on each.

Maria Eagle: The tables show the numbers of prisoners, by month and by index offence, who have absconded from, or failed to return to Ford prison between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2009. No prisoner has been classified as escaping from Ford over this time period.
	Prisoners who escape or fail to return from temporary release are usually re-captured quickly and returned to a closed prison. Currently 96 per cent. of all prisoners who abscond are returned to custody. Both types of unlawful absence from the prison are criminal offences and prisons, police and the Crown Prosecution Service work together to pursue such crimes through the courts where this is appropriate. Alternatively, the prisoner may be dealt with by way of internal adjudication and may receive additional days in prison as a result of this. Details of the sanctions imposed are not held centrally and could only be obtained by identifying and contacting each closed prison where a former prisoner from Ford had been returned; this would incur disproportionate cost.
	While details of the terms of custodial sentence are held centrally this could only be provided by accessing each record manually which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Absconds and temporary release failures have been very successfully reduced year on year. Last year, to 31 March 2009, was the lowest level of absconds since central records began. The current year, to 31 March 2010, is forecast to produce an even lower level of absconding, both nationally across England and Wales, and at Ford.
	The following table shows the number of absconds from HMP Ford over the last 12 years. With one month remaining in the year, the position at Ford reflects the national picture and shows that this year is set to be the lowest level of absconds at the prison on record.
	
		
			   Number of absconds HMP Ford 
			 1997-98 50 
			 1998-99 38 
			 1999-2000 68 
			 2000-01 57 
			 2001-02 57 
			 2002-03 91 
			 2003-04 142 
			 2004-05 119 
			 2005-06 94 
			 2006-07 63 
			 2007-08 48 
			 2008-09 53 
			 2009-10 (YTD to end February 2010) 27 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1a: Absconds from HMP Ford 2007 by month and by index offence 
			   2007 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Affray - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Aggravated burglary - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Attempted robbery - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Breach of community service order - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Breach of suspended sentence - - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Burglary - 1 1 1 - - 1 - - - 2 - 
			 Burglary of a dwelling place - - - 2 - - 1 - - - 1 - 
			 Burglary of non-dwelling place - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 Common assault - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Conspiracy to import drugs - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 
			 Customs evasion (drugs related) - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Deception 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Driving while disqualified - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Illegal immigrant/detainee - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Import/export/drug - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 
			 Manslaughter - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Murder - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 
			 Other criminal offences - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Possession of an offensive weapon - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Possession of drugs with intent to supply - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 
			 Reckless driving - - - 1 1 - - 1 - - - - 
			 Robbery - - 1 - - - - - - 1 1 1 
			 Supplying drugs - - - - - 1 - 1 - 1 - - 
			 Taking and driving away - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 Theft - - 2 - - - - - 3 - 1 - 
			 Wounding with intent to inflict GBH - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 
			 Wounding(inflicting GBH) - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1b: Absconds from HMP Ford 2008 by month and by index offence 
			   2008 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Breach of bail - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Breach of suspended sentence 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Burglary - - - - - 3 - 1 - 3 3 1 
			 Burglary of non-dwelling place - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Causing an explosion or placing explosive - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Common assault - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Deception - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Driving while disqualified - - 1 1 - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Drunk - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Escape lawful custody - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			 Fraud - - - - - - - - 1 2 - - 
			 GBH 1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Inflict grievous bodily harm - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			 Libel - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Manslaughter - - - - - 2 - - - - - - 
			 Other burglary offences - - 1 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Possession drugs with intent - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Possession of drugs with intent to supply 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Robbery - - - - - 2 1 2 1 1 - - 
			 Supplying drugs - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 
			 Taking and driving away - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Theft - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - 
			 Trespass with intent - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 
		
	
	continued
	
		
			  Table 1c: Absconds from HMP Ford 2009 by month and by index offence 
			   2009 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Aggravated burglary - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Burglary 3 1 1 1 - - 2 - - - - - 
			 Burglary of a dwelling place - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - 1 
			 Criminal damage - - - - - - 2 - - - - - 
			 Deception - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Fraud - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 Going equipped for stealing - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Import/export/drug - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 Inflict grievous bodily harm - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Murder - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Other driving offences - - - - - - - - - 1 1 - 
			 Possession of an offensive weapon - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Possession of drugs with intent to supply - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Reckless driving - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Robbery - - - - - - 2 - - - - - 
			 Taking and driving away - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Theft 1 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - 
			 Wounding with intent to inflict GBH - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2a: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2007 by month and by index offence 
			   2007 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Affray - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Aggravated burglary - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 Attempted burglary - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Attempted robbery - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 Burglary 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 
			 Common assault - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 False instrument - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 
			 Handling stolen goods - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 
			 Murder - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Possession drug with intent - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Robbery - - - 1 - 1 1 - 1 - - 1 
			 Theft - - - 1 - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Possess firearm with intent - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2b: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2008 by month and by index offence 
			   2008 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Affray - - 1 - - - - 1 - - - - 
			 Attempted burglary - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Blackmail - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Burglary 1 - 1 - - - - - 1 - 1 - 
			 Conspiracy burglary - - - - 1 - - - - - - - 
			 Conspiracy to supply drugs - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 
			 Death by dangerous driving - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 Drunk - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
			 GBH - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 Import/export drugs - - - - - - - 2 - - - - 
			 Manslaughter - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Murder - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			 Robbery - - - 1 1 - - 1 - - - - 
			 Supplying drugs - - - - - 1 - 1 - - - - 
			 Theft - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 
			 Wounding with intent - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2c: Temporary release failures from HMP Ford 2009 by month and by index offence 
			   2009 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 
			 Attempted murder - - - - - - - - - - - 1 
			 Burglary 1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Drive while disqualified - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 
			 Handling stolen goods - - - - 1 - - - - - - - 
			 Import/export drugs - 1 1 - - - - - - - 2 - 
			 Murder - - - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			 Robbery 1 - - - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			 Taking and driving away - - - - 1 - - - - - - - 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 
		
	
	continued

Reoffenders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) adult and  (b) juvenile offenders in the first quarter of 2008 cohort committed a re-offence in each (i) index disposal and (ii) re-offence category.

Jack Straw: Table 1 shows the number of adults who reoffended within one year, and the frequency of reoffending (per 100 offenders), broken down by index disposal for adults who commenced a court order or were discharged from custody in the first quarter of 2008. Table 2 shows the number of reoffences committed within one year by the same cohort, broken down by offence type.
	
		
			  Table 1: Adults: Actual reoffending rates and frequency of reoffending per 100 offenders, by index disposal, 2008 cohort 
			   Number of offenders in  the cohort  Number of offenders that reoffended  Proportion of offenders that reoffended  Number of offences committed per 100 offenders 
			 Court Orders 37,619 13,589 36.1 123.2 
			 Community Orders 27,504 10,127 36.8 128.5 
			 Suspended Sentence Orders 9,875 3,392 34.3 108.5 
			 Custody 16,099 7,952 49.4 230.9 
			  
			 Overall total 53,718 21,541 40.1 155.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Adults: Number of reoffences by offence type, 2008 cohort 
			  Reoffence type  Number of reoffences 
			 Number of offences 83,516 
			   
			 Violence (serious) 366 
			 Violence (non serious) 9,561 
			 Robbery 665 
			 Public order or riot 7,733 
			 Sexual 365 
			 Sexual (child) 63 
			 Soliciting or prostitution 127 
			 Domestic burglary 1,574 
			 Other burglary 2,339 
			 Theft 25,490 
			 Handling 1,017 
			 Fraud and forgery 1,716 
			 Absconding or bail offences 6,986 
			 Taking and driving away and related offences 1,235 
			 Theft from vehicles 1,229 
			 Other motoring offences 8,198 
			 Drink driving 1,194 
			 Criminal or malicious damage 4,214 
			 Drugs import/export/production/supply 646 
			 Drugs possession/small scale supply 4,719 
			 Other 4,079 
		
	
	Table 3 shows the number of juveniles who reoffended within one year, and the frequency of reoffending (per 100 offenders), broken down by index disposal for juveniles released from custody or commencing a non-custodial court disposal or given an out-of-court disposal in the first quarter of 2008. Table 4 shows the number of reoffences committed within one year by the same cohort, broken down by offence type.
	
		
			  Table 3: Juveniles: Actual reoffending rates and frequency of reoffending per 100 offenders, by index disposal, 2008 cohort 
			   Number of offenders in the cohort  Number of offenders that reoffended  Proportion of offenders that reoffended  Number of offences committed per 100 offenders 
			 Out-of-court disposal 26,962 6,787 25.2 55.5 
			  
			 First-tier penalty 9,951 4,534 45.6 141.8 
			 Discharge 2,008 1,052 52.4 183.6 
			 Fine 1,089 616 56.6 190.5 
			 Referral Order 5,915 2,249 38.0 102.0 
			 Reparation Order 939 617 65.7 246.5 
			  
			 Community penalty 6,359 4,296 67.6 265.9 
			 Attendance Centre Order 634 399 62.9 208.7 
			 Supervision Order 2,721 1,931 71.0 294.5 
			 Action Plan Order 1,031 658 63.8 224.2 
			 Community Rehabilitation Order 688 470 68.3 267.2 
			 Community Punishment Order 346 220 63.6 238.2 
			 Curfew Order 610 421 69.0 297.0 
			 Unknown 329 197 59.9 239.5 
			  
			 Custody 816 606 74.3 342.5 
			 Other disposal 749 490 65.4 308.9 
			  
			 Total 44,837 16,713 37.3 113.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Juveniles: Number of reoffences by offence type, 2008 cohort 
			  Reoffence type  Number of reoffences 
			 Number of reoffences 51,084 
			   
			 Violence (serious) 281 
			 Violence (non serious) 10,117 
			 Robbery 1,267 
			 Public order or riot 5,609 
			 Sexual 80 
			 Sexual (child) 52 
			 Soliciting or prostitution 0 
			 Domestic burglary 1,745 
			 Other burglary 1,370 
			 Theft 7,558 
			 Handling 748 
			 Fraud and forgery 627 
			 Absconding or bail offences 1,786 
			 Taking and driving away and related offences 1,571 
			 Theft from vehicles 645 
			 Other motoring offences 4,210 
			 Drink driving 281 
			 Criminal or malicious damage 6,775 
			 Drugs import/export/production/supply 250 
			 Drugs possession/small scale supply 3,063 
			 Other 3,049 
		
	
	The definition of a reoffence differs between adults and juveniles. For adults, any offence within a year of release from custody or commencement of a court order, which is proven by court conviction within 18 months of release, is counted as a reoffence. For juveniles released from custody or commencing a non-custodial court disposal or given an out-of-court disposal, an offence proven by court conviction or a caution within the same time period is counted as a reoffence. For this reasons the adult and juvenile reoffending rates are not directly comparable.
	Adult and juvenile reoffending data for the 2008 cohort were published on 18 March 2010, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Alternatively, further information on adult reoffending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingof adults.htm
	Further information on juvenile reoffending is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffending juveniles.htm

Young Offenders: Drugs

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders aged  (a) 12,  (b) 13,  (c) 14,  (d) 15,  (e) 16,  (f) 17,  (g) 18 and  (h) 19 years old have tested positive in screening for substance misuse in each young offender institution in each year since 2002; and how many such offenders had access to early intervention and treatment services in each such year.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	The counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare service (CARATs) is the key non-clinical gateway drug treatment service in prisons for prisoners aged over 18. Young people's substance misuse services (YPSMS) provides a similar service for all young people (aged 15-18) in custody.
	The following tables shows the number of initial assessments carried out by CARATs and YPSMS in each young offender institution (YOI) for the full financial years since 2002-03 (YPSMS data are only available from 2005-06). This gives an indication of the number of adults and young people engaged with drug treatment services in YOIs, although the level of engagement will vary according to individuals' needs. It is not possible to break down these figures by age.
	Figures have been drawn from National Offender Management Service administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.
	
		
			  2002-03 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 132 - 
			  Brinsford 655 - 
			  Castington 394 - 
			  Deerbolt 213 - 
			  Feltham 1,688 - 
			  Glen Parva 745 - 
			  Hindley 171 - 
			  Lancaster Farms 400 - 
			  Onley 644 - 
			  Portland 267 - 
			  Reading 345 - 
			  Stoke Heath 673 - 
			  Swinfen Hall 152 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield - - 
			  Huntercombe 201 - 
			  Werrington 176 - 
			  Wetherby 417 - 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Hatfield 313 - 
			  Thorn Cross 169 - 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 -0 4 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 95 - 
			  Brinsford 594 - 
			  Castington 413 - 
			  Deerbolt 307 - 
			  Feltham 1,537 - 
			  Glen Parva 875 - 
			  Hindley 284 - 
			  Lancaster Farms 407 - 
			  Northallerton 171 - 
			  Onley 860 - 
			  Portland 201 - 
			  Reading 324 - 
			  Rochester 156 - 
			  Stoke Heath 657 - 
			  Swinfen Hall 100 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield 416 - 
			  Huntercombe 192 - 
			  Warren Hill 333 - 
			  Werrington 165 - 
			  Wetherby 279 - 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 195 - 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 -0 5 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 103 - 
			  Brinsford 766 - 
			  Castington 760 - 
			  Deerbolt 225 - 
			  Feltham 1,492 - 
			  Glen Parva 839 - 
			  Hindley 239 - 
			  Lancaster Farms 568 - 
			  Northallerton 109 - 
			  Portland 224 - 
			  Reading 292 - 
			  Rochester 195 - 
			  Stoke Heath 747 - 
			  Swinfen Hall 91 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield 519 - 
			  Huntercombe 473 - 
			  Warren Hill 452  
			  Werrington 197 - 
			  Wetherby 1,101 - 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 303 - 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 -0 6 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 117 - 
			  Brinsford 623 766 
			  Castington 430 440 
			  Deerbolt 245 - 
			  Feltham 1,031 1,160 
			  Glen Parva 915 - 
			  Hindley 130 602 
			  Lancaster Farms 376 816 
			  Northallerton 251 - 
			  Portland 183 - 
			  Reading 454 - 
			  Rochester 170 - 
			  Stoke Heath 437 749 
			  Swinfen Hall 214 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield 161 737 
			  Huntercombe - 705 
			  Warren Hill - 640 
			  Werrington - 381 
			  Wetherby - 1,148 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 247 15 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 -0 7 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 101 - 
			  Brinsford 675 651 
			  Castington 447 511 
			  Deerbolt 277 - 
			  Feltham 1,102 1,518 
			  Glen Parva 1,009 - 
			  Hindley 167 487 
			  Lancaster Farms 377 803 
			  Northallerton 248 - 
			  Portland 221 - 
			  Reading 451 - 
			  Rochester 134 - 
			  Stoke Heath 397 762 
			  Swinfen Hall 152 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield - 680 
			  Huntercombe - 501 
			  Warren Hill - 604 
			  Werrington - 246 
			  Wetherby - 1,039 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 102 64 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 -0 8 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 73 - 
			  Brinsford 757 548 
			  Castington 470 454 
			  Deerbolt 359 - 
			  Feltham 1,015 1,778 
			  Glen Parva 1,001 - 
			  Hindley 191 545 
			  Lancaster Farms 496 632 
			  Northallerton 202 - 
			  Portland 206 - 
			  Reading 419 - 
			  Rochester 156 - 
			  Stoke Heath 427 679 
			  Swinfen Hall 152 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield - - 
			  Cookham Wood 26 30 
			  Huntercombe - 540 
			  Warren Hill - 539 
			  Werrington - 181 
			  Wetherby - 1,129 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross - 14 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 -0 9 
			  Function( 1)  Establishment name  CARATs assessments( 2)  YPSMS assessments 
			 Male Closed YOI Aylesbury 125 - 
			  Brinsford 659 459 
			  Castington 467 380 
			  Deerbolt 323 - 
			  Feltham 1,054 1,322 
			  Glen Parva 1,001 - 
			  Hindley 129 587 
			  Lancaster Farms 478 458 
			  Northallerton 239 - 
			  Portland 297 - 
			  Reading 439 - 
			  Rochester 239 - 
			  Stoke Heath 476 703 
			  Swinfen Hall 140 - 
			 
			 Male Juvenile Ashfield - - 
			  Cookham Wood - 177 
			  Huntercombe - 536 
			  Warren Hill - 569 
			  Werrington - 350 
			  Wetherby - 1,101 
			 
			 Male Open YOI Thorn Cross 139 57 
			 (1) Data have only been drawn from establishments with a main function as a young offender institution or juvenile establishment. (2) Some of those engaging with CARATs in YOIs will be over the age of 19.

HOME DEPARTMENT

101 Calls: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding his Department will provide for the national non-emergency number in the next three years.

David Hanson: In March 2010, as part of the Safe and Confident Neighbourhoods Strategy, the Government announced their intention to work with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities to develop the '101' number as a national non-emergency number for contacting the police. This will enable the public to report non-emergency crime and antisocial behaviour concerns and contact their local police force, using the same three-digit telephone number, wherever they live in England and Wales. We intend a national police non-emergency number to be in place by March 2012, subject to further work on the procurement of a suitable infrastructure which provides value for money for the police service, Government and the public.
	The Home Office is currently committed to funding the existing contract for the '101' number until March 2011. In 2010-11, this will be approximately £950,000. Any future funding will be subject to the next comprehensive spending review.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budgetary provision his Department has made in 2010-11 for the conducting, directly or otherwise, of scientific procedures on animals pursuant to his Department's objectives; and how much was spent on this in 2009-10.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office administers a cross-Government account to fund counter-terrorism research. None of that money is ring-fenced for animal research; and no details are held of spending on animal research in 2009-10, or planned spending for this purpose in 2010-11.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals of each species were used in scientific procedures  (a) commissioned directly by his Department and  (b) otherwise undertaken pursuant to decisions taken by his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: In 2009, a total of 170 animals were used in scientific procedures commissioned directly or otherwise by the Home Office, comprising 120 mice, 38 guinea pigs and 12 mini pigs.

Asylum

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of asylum cases arising since 2007 have been determined by his Department within six months in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Phil Woolas: Information on asylum cases in which the UK Border Agency has made an initial decision within six months which excludes the appeal rights exhausted outcomes, is set out in the following table; the figures do not include dependents.
	
		
			   Asylum applications received  Initial decisions within six months (grants or refusals)  Percentage of applications with initial decision within six months 
			 2007 23,430 18,918 81 
			 2008 25,930 19,624 76 
			 2009 24,250 20,326 84 
		
	
	The initial decisions within six months and the percentage of applications with initial decision within six months are internal management information and as such have not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. These data are provisional and subject to change.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on immigration and asylum, including numbers of asylum applications, and initial asylum decisions, on a quarterly and annual basis. These publications are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Border Agency War Crimes Unit

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to answer Question  (a) 322689,  (b) 322690 and  (c) 322691 on the UK Border Agency war crimes unit, tabled on 12 March 2010.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave on 24 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 350-51W.

Departmental Internet

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request Cable & Wireless to use the Internet Watch Foundation list to block access to known child abuse websites from computers on departmental networks.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 25 March 2010
	We have been considering with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) the conditions under which contracts for internet services to Government or Government agencies are offered. It is now a requirement that all suppliers block access to those sites specified on the IWF's list. This will apply to all new contracts offered for supply of these services, and we would strongly urge all current suppliers to ensure that they take the IWF list.

Departmental Internet

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise ministerial colleagues on steps to take to ensure that access to known child abuse sites is not possible from computers on departmental networks.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The Government take the prevention of access to such images very seriously. We believe that Government should take all effective measures, such as the use of criteria in contracts, to ensure that Departments only buy internet services from suppliers that take the Internet Watch Foundation list. The changes to the OGC conditions to ensure that suppliers do this, as set out in their recent Procurement Policy Note, should be used by Departments to help them select their suppliers.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what budgets proceeds of crime recovered as a result of Crown Prosecution Service prosecutions are allocated to  (a) local Crime Reduction Partnership budgets,  (b) other local budgets and  (c) central Government budgets.

Alan Campbell: The Crown Prosecution Service receives 18.75 per cent of the proceeds of crime recovered as a result of its prosecutions. In 2008-09 it received £10.6 million and this has been used to fund training of their lawyers, monitoring the work of their local areas and in supporting their asset recovery function. Full year figures for 2009-10 are not yet available.
	In 2009-10, the Crown Prosecution Service contributed £375,000 of recovered proceeds to the Community Cashback Scheme. This was a new scheme in England and Wales which gives local people a say in how £4 million of recovered criminal assets should be spent in their communities. The Local Criminal Justice Boards considered applications for funding for community projects up to an overall maximum of £95,000 in their area. 269 projects were funded.

Detention Centres: Children

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies on the detention of children of the recent decision in the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Muskhadzhiyeva.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 17 March 2010,  Official Report, column 955W.

Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the reasons for the hunger strike by detainees at Dungavel immigration removal centre; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many cases of hunger strike have occurred at immigration removal centres in each of the last two years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 March 2010
	There has not been a hunger strike at Dungavel immigration removal centre (IRC).
	I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent to Members of this House by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier), on 24 February 2010, addressing the inaccurate reporting in the media of a hunger strike at Yarl's Wood IRC; and to my own comments during Home Office questions in the House on 22 March 2010.
	Those detainees said to be on hunger strike at Yarl's Wood were refusing meals from the centre's canteen, but they were buying food from the centre's shop and vending machines and having food delivered by visitors. They were all also drinking.
	There is a well-publicised procedure in every immigration removal centre to enable detainees to complain about any aspect of their detention or care within the centre. There were no records of complaints received from any of the women involved at the start of the protest. Concerns which have since been raised are being addressed.
	We only record information on detainees who have missed four consecutive meals, excluding breakfast. Such detainees miss meals for a number of reasons, including fasting due to their religious faith. We do not record the number who state they are refusing food in protest at a particular issue.
	All those who miss meals are monitored closely by the centre, including healthcare, where they will receive advice on diet and welfare issues.
	The UK Border Agency and the centre management engage closely with such detainees to understand the reason for them missing meals and to seek to resolve any underlying problems.

Electronic Warfare

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the capability of the UK to repair and recover from damage inflicted on critical infrastructure by an electromagnetic pulse attack.

David Hanson: The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure provides protective security advice to operators of critical national infrastructure which addresses the threats they face and benefits from extensive research programmes which ensure that the advice given is up-to- date. It is not in the interests of national security to provide information about the nature or extent of research programmes that address national security threats.

Entry Clearances

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each country of origin were granted an entry visa on their  (a) first,  (b) second and  (c) third attempt in the last 12 months; and how many from each such country were declined a visa.

Phil Woolas: We are unable to ascertain from central records whether applicants issued with visas in any particular period had previously been refused a visa. This information could only be obtained by checking individual records at disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the sterling equivalent is of the charge made for a visa application made at each overseas post where visa applications are accepted from nationals of that country.

Phil Woolas: UK visa application fees in sterling are published on our website:
	www.ukvisas.gov.uk
	The consular rate of exchange is used to calculate the equivalent fees in local currency and which is advertised locally. The consular rate is based on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office corporate rate of exchange, which is set at the start of each month and should be within 3 per cent. of the commercial rate of exchange.

Greater Manchester

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information as closely related to Manchester Central constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency of the policies of his Department since 1997.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 8 March 2010
	Manchester Central comes within the Manchester Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Manchester CSP.
	In terms of police recorded crime in the Manchester CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 18 per cent. More specifically:
	Violence against the person-down 2 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year)
	Sexual offences-down 10 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year)
	Robbery-down 43 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year)
	Burglary-down 29 per cent. (up 5 per cent. in last year)
	Offences against vehicles-down 35 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year)
	Other theft offences-down 12 per cent. (up 2 per cent. in last year)
	Criminal damage-down 20 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year)
	Drug offences-up 151 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99.
	Manchester CSP is covered by Metropolitan, North Manchester, South Manchester and Trafford basic command units, which had a total of 2,167 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 74 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 at BCU level are not available. There were 218 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). These are now referred to as Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs).
	The Manchester CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
	Neighbourhood Police Teams are in place and the Manchester Central constituency is served by a number of such teams from the Greater Manchester police's North Manchester and Metropolitan Divisions. Neighbourhood policing is a crucial partnership with the public and is helping to reduce crime and enhance community confidence in the police. The visible policing presence is augmented by information on neighbourhood policing in each area which is available on the internet. None of this was in place in 1997.
	All CSPs, including Manchester, are putting in place minimum standards to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB). By tackling ASB and providing support for victims, these will help to reduce local perceptions of ASB and improve public confidence. This was not in place in 1997. In addition, before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour whereas there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and Designated Public Places Orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Manchester is in the top 50 national priority areas for alcohol-related harm.
	The effects of the Department's policies on crime, antisocial behaviour, policing, and night time economy management have been consistently positive and instrumental in supporting the city centre's development as a safer, more popular and vibrant place to visit.
	Detailed and comprehensive analysis is being used by Manchester, along with specific action plans to ensure reductions in serious violent crime. The Manchester Violent Gang Board has recently been commended for their approach to the issues within Manchester and have been given a Green Flag by the Audit commission for their work in relation to Guns and Gangs. Gun crime is down significantly-Greater Manchester Police's Xcalibre Operations have had notable success in targeting the gang culture and securing convictions against gang leaders and members. Firearms discharges have reduced in Manchester over the last three years. This is helping to improve safety in Manchester Central.
	Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing domestic violence has been driven through the Home Office-led Cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan. This includes the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme (Manchester gained accreditation in 2008). It also includes Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), the Government's approach to identified high risk victims of domestic violence. Manchester is developing three MARACs covering all three Police Divisions. Victims of domestic violence are supported by Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs)-trained specialists who provide a service to victims who are at high risk of harm which have been shown to decrease victimisation. Manchester now has 10 IDVAs.
	Since 1997 a key element of Home Office policy in addressing sexual violence has been driven through the delivery of the Home Office-led Cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse which aims to increase access to health and support services for victims; improve the response of the criminal justice system for victims, and to prevent sexual violence in the first place. This has led to expanded services such as Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) to improve victim care. Home Office has supported the continued development of St. Mary's SARC in Manchester and the development of an ISVA service at the centre.
	Manchester is a recipient of Youth Crime Action Plan funding and has rolled out a programme of initiatives designed to tackle Youth Crime. Manchester also receives funding from the Tackling Knives Action Programme and has engaged in a number of enforcement and educational activities to tackle and deter young people from involvement in all forms of serious youth violence. These include Safer Schools Partnerships.
	The drug treatment system in Manchester has developed by means of joint planning and commissioning of services over many years. The introduction of national drug strategy and the establishment of pooled treatment budget arrangements in 2001-02 have done much to formalise and enhance partnership working. This has resulted in the development of an integrated treatment system. Manchester has an effective Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP).
	Manchester is achieving significant reductions in acquisitive crime, but recognises that there are still challenges, particularly in tackling issues such as domestic burglary and robbery. Robust plans are in place to tackle these. There is a real focus on student safety and Manchester has developed a Student Safety Business Model. Manchester is a Vigilance area and Safer Homes Fund area which are Home Office programmes aimed at tackling acquisitive crime, particularly burglary and robbery. Greater Manchester Police's Operation Storm has had real success in recent reductions in domestic burglary in particular.
	From 1 April 2010, CSPs are required to formulate and implement a strategy "to reduce re-offending". One of Manchester's priorities includes reducing the offending of prolific and priority offenders and the Partnership is currently exceeding the targets set in the Local Area Agreement. Manchester will shortly introduce Integrated Offender Management (IOM) based on the Greater Manchester Spotlight model and will have three co-located IOM Teams covering the City. This will manage the most serious offenders including those responsible for acquisitive crime, and violent and domestic violence offences.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./

Grimbsy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Great Grimsby constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Great Grimsby comes within the North East Lincolnshire community safety partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The following statistical information therefore relates to the North East Lincolnshire CSP area.
	In terms of police recorded crime in the North East Lincolnshire CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 26 per cent. More specifically:
	Violence against the person-up 16 per cent. (down 1 per cent. in last year)
	Sexual offences-down 30 per cent. (up 8 per cent. in last year)
	Robbery-down 33 per cent. (down 17 per cent. in last year)
	Burglary-down 38 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year)
	Offences against vehicles-down 62 per cent. (down 41 per cent. in last year)
	Other theft offences-down 12 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year)
	Criminal damage-down 17 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year)
	Drug offences-up 16 per cent. (down 26 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99.
	North East Lincolnshire basic command unit had 263 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 115 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for North East Lincolnshire BCU are not available. There were 49 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP)-now commonly known as a CSP (community safety partnership). The CSP (Safer Communities North East Lincolnshire) has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
	The CSP paved the way for a number of community safety initiatives which have benefited Great Grimsby. North East Lincolnshire has received funding under the Home Office Crime Reduction programme and successor initiatives including the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund and the Basic Command Unit Fund. It has also benefited from other targeted Home Office funding streams which support work on drugs and alcohol harm reduction, domestic abuse, neighbourhood crime and justice, and antisocial behaviour.
	The Home Office Partnership Support programme helped review CSP delivery structures and the future strategic development of the district's CCTV system. North East Lincolnshire is currently in receipt of funding from the Vigilance programme which is helping to accelerate the development and implementation of integrated offender management (IOM). This is seen as the next step in achieving further sustainable reductions in crime across the district. A multi-agency event on 17 March 2010 marked the formal launch of IOM in North East Lincolnshire.
	Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
	North East Lincolnshire's CSP and wider partnership approach has been recognised nationally as effective practice. For example, the delivery of its Family Intervention programme, which joins-up the resources of several government departments, and its work on reducing antisocial behaviour and providing visible neighbourhood justice. In 2009, Safer and Stronger Communities North East Lincolnshire won the prestigious Home Office Tilley Award for its Sport Lincs initiative.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/

Hackney

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Hackney North and Stoke Newington comes within the Hackney community safety partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRP). The statistical information therefore relates to the Hackney CSP.
	In terms of police recorded crime in the Hackney CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 24 per cent. More specifically:
	Violence against the person: down 5 per cent. (down 8 per cent. in last year)
	Sexual offences: up 2 per cent. (up 13 per cent. in last year)
	Robbery: 55 per cent. (down 16 per cent. in last year)
	Burglary: down 43 per cent. (down 1 per cent. in last year)
	Offences against vehicles: down 50 per cent. (down 10 per cent. in last year)
	Other theft offences: down 25 per cent. (down 11 per cent. in last year)
	Criminal damage: down 49 per cent. (down 21 per cent. in last year)
	Drug offences: up 272 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99.
	Hackney basic command unit had 757 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by 84 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Hackney BCU are not available. There were 100 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
	 Funding
	The borough is funded well through central streams and has acquired a large block of funding (£600,000) from the area-based grant beyond the element usually provided via HO crime allocations.
	Hackney is in the top 50 national Alcohol Strategy Delivery Programmes and has received £25,000 for targeted enforcement; multi-agency NTE work; enforcement training; guidance on the use of tools.
	In 2009-10, Hackney is in receipt of £54,000 from CLG to tackle ASB plus a further £12,000 to train ASB Resident Champions and undertake a resident-led ASB project. The borough also gets £70,000 from Home Office as one of the country's Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer areas, substantial monies as part of DCSF's Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) areas and further small pots of funding from Home Office for ASB victims and witness support, and for local ASB surveys.
	 Hackney Safer Greener Partnership
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a crime and disorder reduction partnership-CDRP (now called CSPs). The partnership has brought new ways of working in a cross-cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
	Priority issues for the borough are:
	Serious violence
	Youth violence
	Community engagement and perceptions
	The Area Assessment published in October 2009 found local partners' approach to tackling crime in Hackney is strong and is delivering good results. Hackney is effectively sustaining the significant longer term reductions already achieved.
	Incidents of knife and gun-related crime, as well as antisocial behaviour, have also decreased. It found local partners are using a number of ways to tackle crime. Public services in Hackney have used safer neighbourhood offices to collocate staff who focus on enforcement activity and to tackle drug-related crime, a dedicated drugs squad has been set up. Drug misuse has fallen at a faster rate than other areas of London. Antisocial behaviour and associated youth crime are being effectively tackled. Youth crime has decreased across the borough and concerns about antisocial behaviour have also decreased. Overall, children and young people's safety is promoted well in Hackney.
	The assessment also found Hackney tackles weapon and gang crime through a variety of approaches that aim to divert and motivate young people away from crime through community payback schemes; sport and education, Friday and Saturday evening youth provision, parenting programmes and finding alternatives to school exclusions.
	 Drug- related offending
	To tackle drug-related crime a dedicated drugs squad has been set up. This has resulted in significant reductions in drug-related crime. Other initiatives include the Diamond project aimed at reducing reoffending and a dedicated police officer working with Mind, a mental health charity, to work with and support those who have mental health issues and commit crime. As a result of these projects, drug misuse has fallen at a faster rate than other areas of London.
	Hackney is funded by the HO as an 'intensive' Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) area enabling it to tackle drug-related offending through a range of 'intensive' DIP applications including drug-testing on arrest and restriction on bail provisions allowing more offenders to be targeted, steered into treatment and out of a life of crime. Hackney's DIP budget for 2009-10 is £1,536,227and for 2010-11 is £1,471,088 (4 per cent. reduction). The operation of DIP in Hackney in 2008-09 saw over 2,800 arrestees tested (final figures for 2009-10 are not yet available). 178 were referred into and started structured treatment from DIP-work is being done to improve this referral route into treatment.
	 Violent crime
	Hackney saw a 20 per cent. reduction in grievous bodily harm incidents, 50 per cent. reduction in the number of murders and an overall reduction of 3.4 per cent. in rape allegations during 2006-07 in comparison with 2003-04.
	 Antisocial behaviour and neighbourhood policing
	Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
	37.6 per cent. of residents perceive ASB to be a problem (30th out of the 33 London local authorities). The borough is particularly worse than average for 'noisy neighbours/loud parties', 'rubbish and litter lying around' and 'people using or dealing drugs'.
	25.3 per cent. of residents agree that the police and local services are successfully dealing with crime and ASB in their area. This is below the London average (28.2 per cent.).
	Hackney prioritised NI 17 (perceptions of ASB) (and NI 195-street cleanliness) in its local area agreement.
	Hackney has made ASB a priority within the borough and has regular meetings of a forum linked to the LSP. It is recognised to be improving on local responses to ASB.  Youth crime
	Total funding received from the YJB for 2009-10: £934,876.86
	Total budget for 2009-10: £4,168,422
	Hackney is a pioneering borough and committed to cracking down on youth crime. There are many schemes aimed at young people including after school activities; street-based youth workers and schemes such as Operation Staysafe aimed at identifying children at risk in the late hours.
	The rate of reoffending by young people in Hackney is comparable with similar areas. There are priorities within the Children and Young People's Plan 2008-11 to reduce offending and reoffending among young people and to offer them more and better activities. Two thirds of young people participate in positive activities outside of the school day. The youth offending team works well and there has been increased investment in Hackney's youth services. The proportion of young people sentenced to custody increased in 2008-09 and is higher than the national average, but in line with similar areas. There is an over-representation of black young people in the youth justice system but this is showing a downward trend. Hackney's new youth crime reduction strategy has been informed by a range of evaluations, studies and data including a gap analysis of provision for young black people. More young offenders are in education, employment and training than before and the proportion living in suitable accommodation has also improved.
	Data from Hackney (Hackney Youth Crime Strategy 2009) shows that just over 200 Hackney residents under 19 years have been victims of serious violence. Hackney partners are seeking new ways of encouraging and supporting young victims and witnesses to enable them to feel safe in reporting crime and giving court evidence. They are part of the London Integrated Offender Management Programme and have adopted the principles of intense monitoring of offenders balanced with support to rehabilitate for serious youth violence.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the  (a) 94 individuals accommodated by a local authority whilst awaiting their reasonable grounds decision and  (b) 61 individuals accommodated by a local authority for at least part of their 45 day reflection period between 1 April 2009 and 31 December 2009 were adults.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	Records as at 31 December 2009 show that between 1 April and 31 December 2009:
	 (a) three adults referred to the National Referral Mechanism identification process for victims of human trafficking were accommodated by local authorities while awaiting their reasonable grounds decision.
	 (b) no adults were accommodated by local authorities during their reflection periods.
	We have invested £3.9 million over the current and next financial year into the provision of specialist accommodation and support for adult victims of human trafficking.
	Responsibility for the care, protection and accommodation of child trafficking victims falls within the designated responsibilities of local authorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children under the provisions of the 1989 and 2004 Children Acts.

Human Trafficking: Victims

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been referred through the National Referral Mechanism since 1 April 2009; and how many of them were conclusively identified as trafficked victims.

Phil Woolas: Between 1 April 2009 and 28 February 2010 there have been 626 referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism and 193 conclusive grounds decisions of which 105 were positive conclusive grounds decisions.

Identity Cards

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers the Identity Commissioner has to investigate individual complaints from members of the public on identity cards; and what sanctions the Commissioner has.

Meg Hillier: The role of the independent Identity Commissioner, as set out in the Identity Cards Act 2006, is to oversee the areas of the National Identity Service (NIS) set out in the Act, helping ensure the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) meets its statutory commitments. The key areas of focus are:
	the arrangements for securing the confidentiality and integrity of the information recorded on the National Identity Register;
	the way IPS deals with complaints under the NIS;
	the way identity cards are used.
	The Identity Commissioner and his office are open to receiving queries and are keen to hear comments from the public which will feed into the commissioner's report. The commissioner will also ensure that his recommendations and concerns influence IPS's future policy and processes. It is not part of the commissioner's role to respond to individual queries or complaints as there is already an established IPS complaints process.
	The Act does not give the Identity Commissioner the power to impose sanctions. If the Identity Commissioner finds a material breach of the Data Protection Act he will report it to the Information Commissioner, as well as the Home Office. The Information Commissioner's Office does have the power to issue sanctions. Section 23 of the Act does, however, provide for the Identity Commissioner to report annually to the Home Secretary about the carrying out of his functions. In addition, the Identity Commissioner can make a report at any other time, to the Secretary of State, on matters relating to the carrying out of his functions as he sees fit. The Home Secretary lays the reports he receives, from the Identity Commissioner under this section of the Act, before Parliament.
	The Identity Commissioner's First Annual Report was laid before Parliament on 25 February 2010. This report covers the Identity Commissioner's findings from his first three months in office and his future plans for 2010.

Identity Cards

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Identity Commissioner has been informed of the results of past and current Office of Government Commerce Gateway reviews of the National Identity Card and National Identity Register schemes.

Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Service have provided all the information requested by the Identity Commissioner since his appointment in October 2009, including providing copies of Office of the Government Commerce Gateway reviews.
	In his first annual report, laid before this house on 25 February 2010, the Identity Commissioner provided details of the work he has undertaken since his appointment. He also sets out his plan of work for 2010.

Illegal Immigrants

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many raids the UK Border Agency has conducted of hereditaments within the Government Secure Zone within the last 24 months; in what locations; how many illegal immigrants have been identified; and at what premises.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is not able to identify which properties within the Government Secure Zone are recognised as "hereditaments" as this is outside the scope of the UK Border Agency's business remit.
	However the number of enforcement visits carried out in the London SW1 postcode area in the last 24 months was 62. The number of immigration offenders encountered on these enforcement visits was 49. The UK Border Agency does not divulge personal names or addresses for reasons of confidentiality.
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Immigration: Turkey

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of Turkish citizens who have entered the UK under the terms of the Ankara Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The number of Turkish nationals who have been granted entry clearance to the UK under the Turkish European Community Association Agreement, also known as the Ankara Agreement, in each year since 2004 is shown in the following table. The number of entry clearance applications received in each of these years is also shown. Reliable information for previous years is not held. We do not keep a separate record of people who have actually been admitted under the agreement.
	
		
			  Turkish ECAA-Applications for entry clearance 
			   Applications received  Visas issued 
			 2004 1 0 
			 2005 3 1 
			 2006 3 0 
			 2007 7 3 
			 2008 23 2 
			 2009 54 10 
			 2010 (January-February) 41 0 
		
	
	These data are unpublished and should be treated as provisional.

Nottinghamshire Police Authority

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met representatives of Nottinghamshire police authority and Nottinghamshire police force to discuss  (a) their recently published capability study and  (b) their future strategy; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Home Secretary has not met representatives of Nottinghamshire police authority or Nottinghamshire police force since the publication of the Capability Review in March 2010. I met with representatives from the police authority on 4 March 2010.
	The Home Office, ACPO, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Association of Police Authorities are offering full support to the authority and force as they strive to meet the recommendations in the report. Support is provided in line with the process set out in the policing performance narrative ("The New Performance Landscape for Crime and Policing") published in summer 2009.

Police: Complaints

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) Essex Police and (ii) others on the death of Lee Balkwell at Baldwins Farm, Upminster on 18 July 2002; and if he will seek an explanation from Essex Police on why it has not implemented in full the recommendations of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in relation to the investigation of the case.

David Hanson: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The only contacts which my officials have had with Essex police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in this case have been to obtain information in preparing responses to correspondence on this tragic case received from the hon. Member.
	It is for individual police forces to decide how to respond to IPCC recommendations following investigations and Home Office Ministers have no power to intervene in those decisions.
	I understand that the IPCC recommended that Essex police appoint an external force to conduct an independent reinvestigation into Lee Balkwell's death.
	Essex police decided to appoint an external force to review the Essex police investigations to date. West midlands police is conducting that internal review, which is continuing.

Police: Manpower

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers there were in each year since 1997 and  (b) police community support officers there were in each year since 2002 in Greater Manchester Police.

David Hanson: The available data can be seen in the following tables.
	The first police community support officers started work in September 2002, following legislation which was introduced as part of the Police Reform Act 2002. Therefore, data on police community support officers are not available prior to 31 March 2003.
	This and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Police officer strength in Greater Manchester police force, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2009, and September 2009, full-time equivalent( 1) 
			   Number 
			 1997 6,922 
			 1998 6,949 
			 1999 6,810 
			 2000 6,795 
			 2001 6,909 
			 2002 7,217 
			 2003(2) 7,343 
			 2004(2) 8,042 
			 20052 8,041 
			 2006(2) 7,959 
			 2007(2) 7,887 
			 2008(2) 7,931 
			 2009(2) 8,124 
			 September 20092 8,148 
			 (1 )This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. All officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures).  (2) Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the numbers of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The data from 2003 onwards used here are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison. 
		
	
	
		
			  PCSO strength in Greater Manchester police force, as at 31 March, 2002 to 2009, full-time equivalent( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2002 n/a 
			 2003 160 
			 2004 173 
			 2005 269 
			 2006 251 
			 2007 763 
			 2008 773 
			 2009 782 
			 September 2009 811 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.   Notes:  1. Full-time equivalent include those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.  2. Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data are not available prior to 2002-03.

Police: Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much capital funding has been allocated to the Sussex Police in each year since 2000.

David Hanson: The information available can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Capital funding allocated to Sussex police 
			   £ million 
			 2000-01 1.732 
			 2001-02 2.591 
			 2002-03(1) 3.529 
			 2003-04(1) 3.278 
			 2004-05(2) 3.211 
			 2005-06(3) 4.183 
			 2006-07(3) 4.388 
			 2007-08 4.354 
			 2008-09 4.354 
			 2009-10 4.354 
			 2010-11 4.354 
			 (1 )Including Premises Improvement Fund. (2 )Including Frontline Technology. (3 )Including Air Support.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Databases

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have access to the Serious Organised Crime Agency's ELMER database; and what  (a) personal and  (b) property data are held on the ELMER database.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency has partnership agreements in place with three local authorities allowing accredited financial investigators access to ELMER through terminals housed in local police units. These are the London borough of Tower Hamlets Trading Standards Service and London Illegal Money Lending Team, Neath Port Talbot county borough council's Consumer Fraud Team, and Trading Standards within Glasgow city council.
	The Elmer database only holds personal or property data that have been submitted to SOCA in Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) by institutions or individuals fulfilling their obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to Stroud constituency, the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2000.

Alan Campbell: Stroud comes within the Stroud Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Prior to 1 March 2010, CSPs were referred to as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP). The available statistical information therefore relates to the Stroud CSP.
	In terms of police recorded crime in the Stroud CSP, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 14 per cent. More specifically:
	Violence against the person-up 16 per cent. (down 7 per cent. in last year)
	Sexual offences-up 29 per cent. (up 19 per cent. in last year)
	Robbery-down 23 per cent. (up 8 per cent. in last year)
	Burglary-down 28 per cent. (down 3 per cent. in last year)
	Offences against vehicles-down 31 per cent. (up 7 per cent. in last year)
	Other theft offences-down 30 per cent. (down 3 per cent. in last year)
	Criminal damage-up 5 per cent. (down 12 per cent. in last year)
	Drug offences-up 32 per cent. (up 50 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at CSP level are available prior to 1998-99.
	Cotswold and Stroud Basic Command Unit had 258 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by one since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Cotswold and Stroud BCU are not available. There were 43 Police Community Support Officers as at 30 March 2009, whilst there were none in existence in 1997.
	The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). From March 2010, CDRPs are referred to as Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). The CSP has brought new ways of working in a cross-cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
	Stroud's Safer Community Team is one of five Inspector Neighbourhood Areas in the Cotswolds and Stroud Police Division. There are three police divisions within Gloucestershire Constabulary.
	Stroud's Community Safety Partnership, the statutory multi-agency partnership with responsibility for community safety, is currently looking to move to one partnership with Cotswolds District Partnership. Geographical coverage of the new partnership will therefore coincide with the police division of Cotswolds and Stroud. Information on crime and antisocial behaviour in Cotswolds and Stroud is available on the Crimemapper website at:
	http://maps.police.uk/
	Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include antisocial behaviour orders and designated public places orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
	On 2 December 2009, the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) announced additional funding to develop neighbourhood partnership work to improve public confidence in dealing with issues that matter most in neighbourhoods. This Accelerated Neighbourhood Partnership Fund was targeted at those areas with significantly lower confidence than most similar areas. Stroud was given £41,700 from this fund.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./

TREASURY

Banks: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of  (a) business and  (b) personal customers in York with (i) bank accounts, (ii) mortgages and (iii) other investments with each financial institution in receipt of financial support from the public purse.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Neither HM Treasury nor UK Financial Investments collects or holds such information.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 11 December 2003, paragraph 2, what tests took place in Guildford; in respect of data relating to which bodies the tests were undertaken; what technologies were tested; whether Guildford Borough Council was involved in the tests; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the reports of the tests.

Ian Pearson: The proposed testing to which reference was made in the minutes was not undertaken.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Revaluation 2007 Programme Board minutes of 18 January 2005, paragraph 8, what the estimated level of imputation of data in the 2007 council tax revaluation was in  (a) absolute and  (b) percentage terms.

Ian Pearson: There was no council tax revaluation in 2007 and no such estimate was made.

Departmental Coordination

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on identifying ways in which HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and other Government Departments can better maintain a core database of business identities referred to in the report on service transformation by Sir David Varney.

Stephen Timms: The initial focus for business taken from Sir David Varney's report on service transformation was to bring together in one place on the
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	website all the information and transactions businesses need in dealing with central Government. That work is due to complete by March 2011.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is now developing a common business identifier for use within the Department that will link business tax records held on different HMRC databases. This work will enable delivery of the enhanced online services for small and medium enterprises set out in paragraph 4.20, page 53 of Budget 2010, including providing businesses with a single view of their current financial relationship with HMRC.
	The Government will consider the potential for extending HMRC's approach to other Departments.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department and its agencies has spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were purchased.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to its general public inquiry telephone line.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The HM Treasury (HMT) general public enquiry telephone lines are operated by HMT staff as part of wider public-facing services and are therefore not subject to contractual agreements.

Film: Government Assistance

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on fraudulent claims for assistance made by film companies participating in the Enterprise Investment Scheme.

Ian Pearson: In the light of representations about access to tax relief outside the spirit of the Enterprise Investment Scheme, discussions are taking place between HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs and the EIS community.

Film: Government Assistance

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of fraudulent claims for assistance made by film companies participating in the Enterprise Investment Scheme.

Ian Pearson: No such estimate has been made.

Gift Aid

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 255W, on Gift Aid, what plans his Department has to amend Gift Aid  (a) rules,  (b) eligibility and  (c) tax relief.

Ian Pearson: In February 2010, the Treasury set up a Gift Aid Forum, drawn from representatives across the charitable sector, to consider options for improving Gift Aid, informed by the recent donor research. The forum aims to come up with firm recommendations by the end of September 2010. It has a page on the HM Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_gift_aid_forum.htm
	The Government have announced in the Budget that the UK's tax reliefs for charities and charitable giving, including Gift Aid, will be extended to certain EU charities, to comply with a recent European Court of Justice judgment. To help reduce the increased risk of fraudulent claims, HMRC proposes to introduce a number of changes to the Gift Aid process. These are set out in the HMRC Budget Note:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2010/bn32.htm

Government Departments: Cable and Wireless

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monetary value is of Government contracts with Cable & Wireless to supply internet services.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 25 March 2010
	Details of the monetary value of Government contracts with Cable and Wireless are not held centrally.

Government Departments: ICT

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse had been of the Office for Government Commerce Heavy Hitter Programme Delivery Director service on the latest date for which figures are available; on which IT projects each consultant contracted under that service worked; and what payments have been made to each such consultant for work undertaken in connection with that service.

Ian Pearson: The Programme Delivery Directors (PDDs) project was part of a wider initiative, Executive Support Service, launched in 2005 to improve the success rate of major projects. Two consultants were deployed as Programme Delivery Directors, as set out in the table. The costs involved were recovered by the organisations concerned. Both appointments were made following a comprehensive value for money assessment.
	
		
			  Project name  Description  Period of time deployed:  June  2006 -  December 2007  Daily r ate (£)  Total cost minus T and S (£) 
			 Youth Justice Board Delivery Director Programme 260 days 1,100 273,000 
			  
			 OIS Programme Delivery Director 188 days 1,200 217,000 
			 Total  - - 490,000

Housing: Prices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average sale price of  (a) a detached house,  (b) a semi-detached house,  (c) a terraced house,  (d) a flat and  (e) an average dwelling was in (i) England, (ii) each Government Office region and (iii) each local authority in England in (A) 1996-97 and (B) the latest period for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not routinely calculate average sale price of properties in the geographic areas specified so the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. However, for over 100 separate locations in England, the VOA does publish, twice yearly in its Property Market Report, individual average price estimates of (a) a post-1960 detached house and (b) a post-1960 flat within a block of flats.
	Copies of the Property Market Report are available in the House of Commons Library. The Property Market Report from 2001 onwards is also available electronically on the VOA website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk/publications

Housing: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average additional capital value attributed by the Valuation Office Agency to the presence of a conservatory in a dwelling when conducting  (a) council tax,  (b) Right to Buy and  (c) inheritance tax valuations and revaluations.

Ian Pearson: No such estimate has been made, nor could one be made without disproportionate cost.

Housing: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings have been valued by the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model to date.

Ian Pearson: Value estimates for approximately 22 million dwellings have been produced using the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model (AVM) technology. A precise figure cannot be given without disproportionate cost. Value estimates were produced during the preparatory work for the postponed 2007 council tax revaluation in England and have since been produced to support the ongoing maintenance of the investment made in AVM technology.

Individual Savings Accounts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the changes in Individual Savings Account limits announced in the 2009 Budget.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The costs of the ISA limit increases were published at Budget 2009 in Table A1 at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bud09_completereport_2520.pdf

Landfill Tax

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on changing the status of incinerator bottom ash from inert waste to active waste for landfill tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: At Budget 2009 the Government launched a consultation on modernising landfill tax legislation. The consultation sought stakeholder views on proposals designed to ensure that landfill tax remains an effective means of reducing the volume of waste that goes to landfill; those proposals included the possibility of redefining the qualifying criteria for the lower rate of tax.
	A non-interpretative summary of representations made during the consultation period, available at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud09_landfilltax.htm
	was published on 4 December 2009. Responses were received from local authorities about incinerator bottom ash.
	The Government have completed their dialogue with stakeholders who responded to the consultation and a response was announced at Budget 2010.
	The Government have concluded that bottom ash and fly ash from wood or waste combustion will remain eligible for the lower rate of tax, as will those from coal combustion when they are landfilled in a site containing no other waste.

Landfill Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) gross and  (b) net cost to local authorities was of landfill tax in each year since its introduction.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: It is not possible using landfill tax receipts data to determine how much revenue is received from local authorities. This is because registered landfill site operators pay the tax to HM Revenue and Customs and pass on the cost to their customers through the disposal charges they set. The origin of the landfilled waste is not recorded on the tax return.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fast-track reviews of port rating assessment have been initiated by the Valuation Office Agency; how many such reviews will be completed before the end of the 2009-10 financial year; and for what reasons businesses reviewed after the end of 2009-10 will be required to pay retrospective rates to 2005.

Ian Pearson: From 24 November 2008, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) put in place 'fast track' arrangements for ratepayers affected by the review of ports who wish to question or challenge their new rating assessments. As at 10 March 2010, the fast track arrangements have been applied to 972 proposals (appeals), of which 608 have been completed.
	It is estimated that 650 reviews will be completed by 5 April 2010.
	The effective date of any change to the rating lists will be determined in England by the Non-Domestic Rating (Alterations of Lists and Appeals) Regulations (England) 2005. Where changes are made after 5 April 2010, the nature of the change and the application of the regulations will dictate whether the effective date is limited to the date of alteration or is backdated to some earlier date.

Non-domestic Rates: Public Lavatories

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a municipal lavatory in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ian Pearson: No estimate has been made for this class.
	Average rateable value information, including that for municipal lavatories, was first published on the Valuation Office Agency website on 18 December 2009
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/Table3-England_RV_by_scat_code.xls
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/Table4-Wales_RV_by_scat_code.xls
	Information for municipal lavatory can be found under: Public Conveniences Scat code 224.

Non-domestic Rates: Sex Establishments

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a lap dancing club in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ian Pearson: An estimate has not been made. No data are available to differentiate lap dancing clubs from other licensed clubs, public houses and bars.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many lifeboat stations in England had  (a) a decrease,  (b) no change,  (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase,  (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase,  (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase,  (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase,  (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase,  (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and  (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(2)  which 10 individual lifeboat stations hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the  (a) postcode and  (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments;
	(3)  how many stately homes and historic houses participating in the national scheme in England had  (a) a decrease,  (b) no change,  (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase,  (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase,  (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase,  (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase,  (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase,  (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and  (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(4)  which 10 individual hereditaments of stately homes and historic houses participating in the national scheme in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the  (a) postcode and  (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments;
	(5)  how many coastguard stations in England had  (a) a decrease,  (b) no change,  (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase,  (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase,  (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase,  (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase,  (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase,  (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and  (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(6)  which 10 individual coastguard station hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the  (a) postcode and  (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: "Non-domestic Rateable Values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales", updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many holiday centres in England had  (a) a decrease,  (b) no change,  (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase,  (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase,  (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase,  (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase,  (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase,  (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and  (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(2)  which 10 individual holiday centre hereditaments in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the  (a) postcode and  (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments;
	(3)  how many vineyards or wineries in England had  (a) a decrease,  (b) no change,  (c) a one to 20 per cent. increase,  (d) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase,  (e) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase,  (f) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase,  (g) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase,  (h) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and  (i) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(4)  which 10 individual hereditaments of vineyards or wineries in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the  (a) postcode and  (b) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: "Non-domestic rateable values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales", updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many  (a) hotels rated 4-star and above and chain operated hotels rated 3-star in the national scheme and  (b) hotels rated 3-star and below in England had (i) a decrease, (ii) no change, (iii) a one to 20 per cent. increase, (iv) a 21 to 50 per cent. increase, (v) a 51 to 100 per cent. increase, (vi) a 101 to 150 per cent. increase, (vii) a 151 to 200 per cent. increase, (viii) a 201 to 300 per cent. increase and (ix) an increase of over 300 per cent. in their rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List;
	(2)  which 10 individual hereditaments of  (a) hotels rated 4-star and above and chain-operated hotels rated 3-star in the national scheme and  (b) rated 3-star and below in England have the biggest percentage change in rateable value between the 2005 Rating List and the 2010 Rating List; and what the (i) postcode and (ii) percentage change in rateable value is for each of these hereditaments.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is published in the statistical release by the Valuation Office Agency titled: "Non-domestic Rateable Values: 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales", updated on the 26 February 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available on the VOA website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the Valuation Office Agency does not impose charges without notice on companies in respect of which its assessment is found to be incorrect.

Ian Pearson: Valuation officers in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have a statutory duty to maintain rating lists and correct any inaccuracies which come to their attention.
	The VOA does not impose charges-local billing authorities are responsible for charging and collecting business rates. Valuation officers will always send a notice to the rateable occupier of a property setting out any changes to a rating assessment.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a property used for war games courses in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ian Pearson: No.

Non-domestic Rates: Zoos

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the average rateable value of a zoo in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Ian Pearson: No estimate has been made for this class.
	Average rateable value information, including that for zoos, was first published on the Valuation Office Agency website on 18 December 2009.
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/Table3-England_RV_by_scat_code.xls
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/Table4-Wales_RV_by_scat_code.xls
	Information for zoos can be found under: Zoos and Safari Parks Scat code 304.

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) took into account in determining the days and hours of opening of each tax enquiry centre; what mechanisms HMRC used to take account of the requirements of different user groups in each location; what provision has been made to assist the  (a) elderly and  (b) people with disabilities to face-to-face communications at those centres; what estimate HMRC has made of the number of people in each customer group who will be affected by the changes in arrangements for tax enquiry centres; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) remains committed to providing access to face to face advice services for those customers who need this form of support, at or close by where they are provided now. However the way in which the Department does so needs to change to reflect the fact that taxpayers are increasingly turning to online and telephony services.
	This year, for example, HMRC's Inquiry Centres will have 40 per cent. fewer customers nationally than they did four years ago. Of the remaining customers, 85 per cent. are able to resolve their query either by self service using the internet or by contacting one of the Department's helplines.
	However, there are customers who would benefit from face to face support who, for whatever reason, do not currently access it from HMRC. The Department is keen to extend its reach to these customers by developing, testing and taking forward new approaches to face-to-face service delivery.
	In 2008, HMRC tested alternative opening patterns in 10 Inquiry Centres across the UK. This six-month pilot showed no adverse impact on those customers who needed face to face advice from HMRC.
	Following this, the Department has moved to new opening patterns in a further 58 of our Inquiry Centres with low numbers of customer visits.
	These changes were based on a variety of factors, including the number and pattern of customer visits and appointments, proximity to other Inquiry Centres and other local circumstances. HMRC has also considered demographic data (for example, concentrations of the elderly and lone parents) and consulted with representative customer groups such as Citizens Advice Bureau, Tax help for Older People, and Gingerbread with knowledge of particular customer needs.
	HMRC makes various provision to assist the elderly and people with disabilities to access face to face advice in its Inquiry Centre network, including wheelchair access, induction loops and (by appointment) signing support for customers with hearing disabilities, lighted magnifiers for customers with sight disabilities. These services are based on individual needs, and will not change as a result of HMRC's move to alternative opening patterns for its Inquiry Centres.
	The Department has published an Equality Impact Assessment of the changes to opening patterns across its Inquiry Centre network which considers the impact of changes to opening hours on particular customer groups, and to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to comment. This is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/enq-centre-service.pdf
	No such estimate has been made, as at present HMRC does not hold equality data on its Inquiry Centre customers. To address this, HMRC will introduce new processes from April 2010 to collect such data.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on how many land and property transactions stamp duty land tax was paid in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the average amount paid in stamp duty land tax was in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimates of the number of residential and non-residential transactions chargeable to stamp duty on land and property are given for England, Wales and Northern Ireland for 1997-98 to 2001-02. An estimate is not available for Scotland for these years.
	For the years 2002-03 to 2004-05, estimates of the number of transactions chargeable to stamp duty land tax are given for the UK and estimated based on published figures for Scotland.
	For 2005-06 to 2008-09 UK figures for number of transactions chargeable to stamp duty land tax, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/table16-5.pdf
	are given in the table. For these years chargeability is defined as the transaction priced over the tax threshold, unless tax reliefs reduce the tax liability to zero, whereas for previous years chargeability was defined entirely on price.
	For the years from 2002-03 to 2008-09 the average amount of stamp duty land tax paid on chargeable transactions is given for each year, calculated by dividing UK receipts by the number of chargeable transactions in the table.
	Estimates for the years from 1997-98 to 2004-05 are derivable from tables 15.1, 16.1A and 16.5 of past paper editions of the publication Inland Revenue Statistics. Estimate for the years from 2005-06 are derivable from figures available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-1.pdf
	and
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/survey_of_prop/table16-5.pdf
	
		
			   Country  Number of chargeable transactions  Average amount of stamp duty land tax per chargeable transaction 
			 1997-98 England, Wales and NI (1)720 (3)n/a 
			 1998-99 England, Wales and NI (1)730 (3)n/a 
			 1999-2000 England, Wales and NI (1)910 (3)n/a 
			 2000-01 England, Wales and NI (1)880 (3)n/a 
			 2001-02 England, Wales and NI (1)1,050 (3)n/a 
			 2002-03 UK (1)1,280 5,900 
			 2003-04 UK (1)1,190 6,400 
			 2004-05 UK (1)1,310 6,800 
			 2005-06 UK (2)950 11,500 
			 2006-07 UK (2)1,160 11,500 
			 2007-08 UK (2)1,100 12,900 
			 2008-09 UK (2)480 16,700 
			 (1) Based on number of transactions priced above lowest stamp duty land tax threshold. (2) Based on number of transactions priced above lowest stamp duty land tax threshold where tax reliefs do not extinguish chargeability. (3) No figures for stamp duty on property receipts available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland for these years.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which areas disadvantaged area stamp duty relief applies; and what the value is of the threshold.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Stamp duty land tax disadvantaged areas relief is available in almost 2,000 areas of the United Kingdom. The qualifying areas for relief are set out in the Stamp Duty (Disadvantaged Areas) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3747). The relief applies to land transactions involving residential property where the chargeable consideration for the transaction does not exceed £150,000.

Taxation: Business

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what average length of time it took for HM Revenue and Customs to register a business for tax purposes in  (a) September 2009,  (b) October 2009,  (c) November 2009,  (d) December 2009 and  (e) January 2010;
	(2)  what average length of time if took for HM Revenue and Customs to register a business for tax purposes in  (a) September 2008,  (b) October 2008,  (c) November 2008,  (d) December 2008 and  (e) January 2009.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for administering a large number of taxes and duties, of which some have registration regimes and others do not. The data in respect of some of these regimes are held centrally and is readily accessible, while for others they could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 902W, on the Valuation Office 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the user guidance and manuals for the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model software and database, with information redacted that could assist with unauthorised access;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Valuation Office Agency's user guidance and manuals for the  (a) digital remapping tool and  (b) locality delineation tool, with information redacted that could assist with unauthorised access.

Ian Pearson: The guidance requested has been written specifically to provide detail of how to access and operate these applications. Accordingly, it is not possible to redact only those parts that could assist with unauthorised access.
	The Valuation Office Agency has no digital remapping tool.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest edition of the Valuation Office Agency's council tax referencing manual.

Ian Pearson: A copy of the latest edition of the Valuation Office Agency's Council tax referencing manual will be placed in the Library.

Valuation Office Agency: Contracts

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 4 February 2010,  Official Report, column 522W, on the Valuation Office: contracts, how much was spent with  (a) Video Arts,  (b) Video Inn and  (c) Mike Jarvis Video Services in 2008-09; what goods and services were purchased in each case; and for what purposes.

Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency spent £211 for training materials on skills enhancements with Video Arts, £20,266 for video and sound equipment hire for conferences with Video Inn, and £460 for video equipment hire with Mike Jarvis Video Services.

Valuation Office Agency: Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bonuses have been awarded to the section of the Valuation Office Agency responsible for the valuation of ports in the last three years; and what the aggregate value was of such bonuses.

Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency does not hold centrally a record of the duties performed by individuals in receipt of performance awards or recognition payments. This information is not easily accessible and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Valuation Office Agency: Surveys

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the findings of and report on the Valuation Office Agency's People Survey for  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009.

Ian Pearson: The VOA took part in the first civil service-wide People Survey in October 2009. The results for the VOA have now been placed in the Library. The report format is consistent with the results available for other Government Departments/executive agencies and this is to ensure comparability of results across the civil service.
	There was no People Survey in 2008. However, the VOA did conduct its own staff survey and this report has also been placed in the House Library.

VAT: Direct Mail

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations HM Revenue and Customs has received on proposals to change the value added tax zero rating for mailed marketing or promotional literature; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government have no proposals to change the taxation of marketing and promotional literature.

VAT: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax was paid by businesses in York in 2009; and if he will estimate the sum which would have accrued to the Exchequer in that year under a value added tax rate of 17.5 per cent.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.
	While HM Revenue and Customs' systems record an address for each VAT registered business this is not always a reliable indicator of where it does business.
	Since the majority of VAT is paid by the largest businesses that typically operate throughout the UK, it is not appropriate to allocate VAT paid by a business to the location of its VAT registration.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of households from which the recovery of a tax credits overpayment is being sought.

Stephen Timms: As members of households can change overtime and one individual may have been in several tax credits awards, overpayments are calculated and recovered on the basis of awards rather than households.
	Figures at household level are available only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of awards that have been overpaid each year is available in the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Finalised Awards 2007-08. Supplement on Payments in 2007-08". This is available on the HMRC website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/ctcw-tax-credit-final-may09-sup.pdf

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the cost of paying attendance allowance for claims started in 2010-11 in the next five years;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of the  (a) number of new claimants of attendance allowance and  (b) cost to her Department of new claims for attendance allowance in each of the next five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: In line with HM Treasury convention, forecasts of benefit expenditure and related volumes are not published beyond the current spending review period. Information on the forecast number of new awards for attendance allowance in 2010-11, and the expenditure on those claimants in 2010-11, is contained in the table.
	The figures should not be seen as indicative of the total claimant count estimates for attendance allowance over the same period as they do not account for off-flows.
	
		
			   New claimants of attendance allowance 2010-11 
			 Total number of awards 330,000 
			 Number of awards in payment 250,000 
			 Expenditure in 2010-11 (£ million) 416 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 1,000 awards and £1 million expenditure. 2. The estimated total number of awards represents new awards to attendance allowance liveload, and will include some cases which are not in payment. 3. A small number of renewal claims are excluded, as these people are already claiming the benefit and this information is not estimated separately. 4. Estimated expenditure relates to that part of 2010-11 that each new claimant spent on attendance allowance. On average, each new claimant in 2010-11 will have spent around half of 2010-11 receiving benefit. It is assumed that all new awards continue claiming until the end of 2010-11.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Statistical data and pre-Budget report forecasts

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Surveillance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, column 456W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether  (a) the commission and  (b) its predecessor has made use of personal (i) Census, (ii) HM Revenue and Customs' tax records and (iii) Experian data.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, official Report, column 456W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether (a) the Commission and (b) its predecessor has made use of personal (a) Census, (b) HM Revenue and customs tax records and (c) Experian data.
	Neither the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, nor the Child Support Agency (when it was an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions) has made any use of census data. Both the Commission and the Child Support Agency have however had access to information held by HM Revenue and Customs and Experian for the purposes of tracing non-resident parents, establishing the amount of child maintenance payable and negotiating the payment of child maintenance arrears.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Surveillance

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, column 456W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether the Commission and its predecessor have made use of  (a) covert human intelligence sources and  (b) private investigators.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 456W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: surveillance, whether the Commission and its predecessor have made use of (a) covert human intelligence sources and (b) private investigators.
	Neither the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, nor the Child Support Agency (when it was an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions) has made any use of covert human intelligence services or private investigators.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress has been made on the transfer of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress has been made on the transfer of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. (323484)
	The problems encountered by the Child Support Agency following the launch of the Reforms in 2003 resulted in a decision to defer the bulk transfer of cases from the old (launched in 1993) scheme, to the current (launched in 2003) child support scheme in the meantime, cases were only migrated from the old computer system to the new computer system where they had a link with a case on the new system that made this necessary.
	This decision was kept under review and in February 2006 the Government asked Sir David Henshaw to review the entire system of child maintenance. His subsequent report led to the Government's White paper and to the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, which makes provision for a new system of child maintenance the "future scheme".
	The future scheme will be introduced from 2011, and all clients on the two existing schemes will then have the opportunity to apply to that scheme or make a private arrangement. It is currently planned that this process will take around three years, after which both of the existing schemes will close. It is not Government policy to undertake a bulk transfer of cases between the two existing schemes in the meantime.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Child Support Agency was owed by non-resident parents on the latest date for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Child Support Agency was owed by non-resident parents on the latest date for which figures are available.
	Information on the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by non-resident parents is routinely published in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This is available through the following link:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/stats1209.html
	As at December 2009, the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by Non-Resident Parents to either Parents with Care or the Secretary of State is £3,783 million. This has decreased from £3,842 million in December 2008. A total of £150m has been collected in arrears in the year January to December 2009. These figure are un-audited.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Council Tax Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions her Department has had with  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate.

Helen Goodman: Discussions at ministerial level took place during the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill and the Government agreed that changing the name of council tax benefit to council tax rebate could have a positive impact on benefit take-up. We want to make the change at the earliest opportunity and discussion take place between officials of Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government as part of the process for achieving that.

Council Tax Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has held with the Local Government Association on the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate;
	(2)  what advice her Department issued to local authorities on renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate;
	(3)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of local authorities whose IT systems are able to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate; and how many local authorities have informed her Department that their IT systems are unable to facilitate this change;
	(4)  pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for New Forest West of 15 March 2010,  Official Report, column 607, on council tax benefit, what practical issues other than IT systems her Department has identified as barriers to renaming council tax benefit as council tax rebate; what steps her Department is taking to tackle those issues; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what assessment she has made of the changes required to local authority IT systems to update the change of name; and if she will make a statement;
	(6)  what surveys her Department has undertaken of local authorities to assess the capacity of their IT systems to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate.

Helen Goodman: Renaming council tax benefit will have significant impact on the administration of the benefit, with major delivery implications for local authorities. The main impact will be on IT systems, including where these link to Department for Work and Pensions systems. There will also be necessary changes to forms, leaflets and billing arrangements in order to give accurate information to existing customers, and maximise the impact of the change in improving take-up.
	Officials are engaging with local authorities in a number of ways. There have been preliminary formal discussions with the local authority associations and with practitioners from local authorities. This will be followed by more detailed survey of the requirements of individual authorities. Proposals have been outlined to the local authority software suppliers to enable them to start to prepare requirements and costs for the changes and enhancements to IT systems.

Council Tax Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate her Department has made of the potential number of additional claimants who will claim council tax benefit when it is renamed council tax rebate.

Helen Goodman: The Government want to ensure people get the help they are entitled to with their council tax bills and has an ongoing programme of work to encourage them to claim. Renaming council tax benefit as a rebate would help remove a barrier that may prevent some people claiming and we have taken steps to make this important change. We have not made an assessment at this time of the precise impact on take-up that renaming council tax benefit may have but are gathering data that will enable us to make a robust estimate of the additional number of people who would claim council tax rebate.

Council Tax Benefits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department has taken to draft legislation to facilitate the renaming of council tax benefit as council tax rebate; and when she expects to lay such legislation before Parliament.

Helen Goodman: The powers we have taken in the Welfare Reform Act 2009 will enable us to make the change of name to council tax rebate quickly through an order, once we have established a timetable that takes into account the full costs and implementation requirements of local authorities.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information as requested is not available. The Department has a PFI contract for the provision of fully serviced accommodation. We currently occupy around 1,000 buildings under the terms of this contract and pay a per square metre charge known as a facility price. This charge is site specific and does not identify different uses of areas within a property.
	A number of sites do have facilities such as gyms, and the vast majority will have rest areas or breakout rooms provided for the relaxation and comfort of staff working there. Often these spaces are dual use fulfilling a function as both areas for rest or leisure, and for more formal uses such as meetings or team sessions.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP does not provide staff with specific subsidised gym facilities. However, through the DWP discount scheme staff have the opportunity to take advantage of discounts for gym membership.
	In addition, gym facilities are provided in some offices for staff who are members of the Health and Social Security Recreational Association (HASSRA) and the Civil Service Sports and Social Club (CSSC). Both HASSRA and CSSC are recreational associations funded primarily by membership subscription.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on interior design in relation to office refurbishments undertaken in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by her Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP occupies the vast majority of its properties under the terms of a PFI contract with Telereal Trillium. Telereal Trillium, on behalf of the Department, is currently evaluating two suppliers of voltage optimisation equipment to determine suitability for the DWP estate. The installation of voltage optimisation specifically for lighting circuits is also being considered.
	With regard to similar technologies, Telereal Trillium has recently completed a national project on behalf of the Department to install over 5,300 energy saving electronic control devices, on small to medium refrigeration machines-domestic refrigerators and air conditioning units.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the written ministerial statement of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 50-68WS, on departmental expenditure limits, whether her Department made a request for resources 4 as part of its supplementary estimate.

Jonathan R Shaw: The written ministerial statement of 23 February 2010 only details changes to the Departments for Work and Pensions departmental expenditure limit. There were no departmental expenditure limit changes for Request for Resources 4 as part of the Spring Supplementary Estimate.
	The Voted provision for Request for Resources 4 increased in the Spring Supplementary Estimate by £3,918,000 from £18,721,770,000 to £18,725,688,000 due to an increase in the provision for the grant in aid payment to the Independent Living Fund. This increase can see be seen in the Central Government Supply Estimates 2009-10 Spring Supplementary Estimate-HM Treasury HC 257:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/springsupps0910_dwp.pdf

Departmental ICT

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent on maintaining its computer systems, excluding capital purchases, in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: External expenditure on application maintenance and support was £66 million in 2008-09.
	This maintains and supports all the Departments IT estate, including all the IT systems that support Jobcentre Plus, Pensions Disability and Carers Service and payments systems to provide services to over 20 million people.
	The Department ensures the best value for money by contracting for IT standard services by rigorously benchmarking and market testing.

Departmental Location

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on the relocation of staff from posts in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has not relocated any staff from posts in Essex or the Castle Point constituency to other parts of the country in the last five years.

Departmental Marketing

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much her Department and agencies have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the  (a) Real Help Now and  (b) Building Britain's Future themed campaign to date.

Jonathan R Shaw: Real Help Now was introduced to raise awareness of the services and support available to people to help them through the economic downturn. The Department for Work and Pensions spent a total of £365,000 on a range of activities that came under 'Real Help Now'. These activities included leaflets and advertising to promote financial help available to employers for recruitment, a cross government employment summit and promotion of Real Help Now information on businesslink.gov.uk.
	DWP's only supporting communications activity for Building Britain's Future is the Backing Young Britain campaign. This campaign is still running and information on costs will only be available when the activity is complete.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items have been purchased.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not readily available since the management information does not differentiate between the DWP-branded material and that produced for our agencies, Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service, and our 15 non-departmental public bodies. It could therefore be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by her Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of each.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's policies on hospitality are set out in the DWP Hospitality Framework. This framework is based on the principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.
	A copy of the DWP Hospitality Framework is being deposited in the Library.

Departmental Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by her Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election.

Jonathan R Shaw: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
	Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

Departmental Responsibilities

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to share services, functions and back offices with local authorities as part of the Total Place initiative.

Helen Goodman: The Government's report on Total Place was published alongside Budget 2010.

Employment Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect on levels of unemployment of  (a) the Support for the Newly Unemployed programme,  (b) the Six Month Offer,  (c) the Young Person's Guarantee,  (d) the Jobseeker Seeker Regime as part of the Flexible New Deal and  (e) the Flexible New Deal;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect on the number of people flowing off the claimant count of  (a) the Support for the Newly Unemployed programme,  (b) the Six Month Offer,  (c) the Young Person's Guarantee,  (d) the Jobseeker Seeker Regime as part of the Flexible New Deal and  (e) the Flexible New Deal.

Jim Knight: Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance dropped in February for the third consecutive month, to 1.585 million.
	Early evaluation evidence on the jobseekers regime and flexible new deal, the six- month offer and support for newly unemployed was published in January 2010. Further evidence on the impact of the six-month offer and the jobseekers regime and flexible new deal on customer outcomes will be available from early 2011, with evidence on the impact of the young person's guarantee to follow in 2012.

Employment: Disabled

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department has taken in respect of the working conditions of disabled workers resident in Preston in the last seven years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government have significantly improved working conditions for disabled people by providing additional rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for disabled people not to be discriminated against on the ground of their disability, and to have reasonable adjustments made to ensure that they do not experience substantial disadvantage, compared to non-disabled people, in the employment field. Since 1 October 2004, the employment provisions of the Act have been extended to all forms of employment and occupation, except service in the armed forces, and to employers of all sizes. Through the Equality Bill we are making further improvements, including restrictions on the use by employers of pre-employment enquiries about a person's disability or health.
	The Health and Safety Executive promotes the message that health and safety issues should not be used as an excuse to exclude a disabled person from work opportunities. The Executive worked with the former Disability Rights Commission to produce its disability web pages and guidance leaflet for disabled employees and their employers. The information on the web pages and within the guidance promotes good practice in disability equality at work and health and safety risk assessment. The web pages also contain much valuable information for employers and employees on reasonable adjustments.
	Disabled people, including those in Preston, who are in work or about to start a job may also benefit from Access to Work, a specialist disability programme delivered by Jobcentre Plus, which provides practical advice and financial support to disabled people and their employers to help them overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. An Access to Work adviser works with the customer to develop a detailed assessment of the customer's needs, leading to grants towards the cost of providing support. In December 2008 we committed to doubling the budget to £138 million by 2013-14, enabling many more disabled people in Preston and elsewhere to benefit.

Employment: Disabled

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has made a recent estimate of the number of disabled people resident in each local authority area who have moved into work in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not available.

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has received recent reports of the notification of Jobcentre Plus of Future Jobs Fund vacancies which have not met the Future Jobs Fund criteria; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Guidance and criteria are available on the internet and from Jobcentre Plus.
	To ensure that the jobs meet the criteria, bids are rigorously assessed before we award the grant, and Jobcentre Plus also checks individual vacancies at the point when they are notified.

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the geographical distribution of jobs created through Future Jobs Fund funding.

Jim Knight: The geographical distribution of jobs created through the future jobs fund is subject to continuous review with Government offices and Jobcentre Plus to ensure good coverage across Great Britain.

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful bidders for Future Jobs Fund funding have since suspended their job offers under the scheme.

Jim Knight: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Jobcentre Plus works with all successful bidders to ensure that future jobs fund jobs are filled by the most suitable candidate.

Income Support

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of income support claims took longer than the target processing time in each benefit delivery centre in each month of the last two years.

Helen Goodman: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many and what proportion of income support claims took longer than the target processing time in each benefit delivery centre in each month of the last two years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has a formal published target for the average actual clearance time (AACT) taken to process Income Support claims. Within any given month our benefit processing systems calculate the total number of claims we have cleared against the total number of days each of these cases have taken - this results in production of the AACT. The AACT target does not mean that all claims for that benefit should be processed within that time. This is because the target is based on an average which recognises that each individual customer's circumstances differ and by that very nature some cases will be easier/quicker to process than those that are more complex and naturally take longer to process.
	On that basis, we are unable to provide the specific information in the manner you have requested.

Jobcentre Plus: ICT

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is provided for jobseekers at Jobcentre Plus offices on the availability of computers for carrying out job searches.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what guidance is provided for jobseekers at Jobcentre Plus offices on the availability of computers for carrying out jobsearches. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	All jobseekers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance have an interview with an adviser to discuss and agree realistic and achievable job goals and those steps that, if taken regularly, will offer the best chance of finding work.
	During this process, the adviser provides access to a wide range of help and support aimed at improving job prospects and overcoming barriers that might be making it harder to find work. This includes providing information, advice and guidance on how to identify and apply for jobs, and how to make best use of appropriate vacancy sources such as the Jobcentre Plus telephony-based vacancy matching system (Jobseeker Direct) and the government's Internet Job Bank on Directgov, which is accessible through the internet and in all jobcentres via our Jobpoints. Every time customers are asked to attend their local Jobcentre, they are encouraged to use a Jobpoint to identify and apply for jobs. If required, customers are shown how to use a Jobpoint by a member of the Customer Service Team.
	We recognise the importance of having access to a computer to enable customers to search and apply for jobs online, as this is rapidly becoming the recruitment channel of choice for employers. In recognition of this, we are developing close working relationships with local providers such as UK Online Centres in England and the equivalent in Scotland and Wales and signposting customers to the support that these provide. Personal Advisers tell customers how they can find their nearest UK Online Centre, and equivalent in Scotland and Wales, using a free phone number, to enable them to gain access to this help. We are also raising awareness of schemes that will help customers get their own home computer, such as the Department for Children, Schools and Families Home Internet Access programme. Furthermore, later this year, we will be Mailing customer access to PCs in some of our Jobcentres and offering supported access to those who have no or low digital skills.
	You may also wish to know that Jobcentre Plus launched its Smartphone Application on 10 March, which is an alternative means for our customers to access our Internet Job Bank. The application allows those with compatible smartphones to perform jobsearches and browse job vacancies directly from their handset, whenever they are connected to the internet. This application provides another means of accessing the digital labour market and promoting self-service for our customers.
	I hope this reply is helpful and assures you of our intent to make sure jobseekers are able to compete effectively within the labour market and use modern recruitment methods.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many of those in receipt of jobseeker's allowance gave Jobcentre Plus offices as their temporary address whilst of no fixed abode in the last  (a) 12 months,  (b) three years and  (c) five years;
	(2)  how many of those in receipt of jobseeker's allowance had their jobseeker's allowance giro payments sent to their local Jobcentre Plus office rather than to a domestic postal address in the last  (a) 12 months,  (b) three years and  (c) five years.

Helen Goodman: The information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Self-employed

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has made an estimate of the number of former claimants of jobseeker's allowance who have become self-employed in each  (a) constituency and  (b) smallest geographical area for which figures are available in each year since 1997.

Helen Goodman: The information requested is not available.
	Although some information is gathered on the Department's administrative systems on the number leaving jobseeker's allowance and moving into work, a breakdown into employees and the self-employed is not available.

Maternity Leave: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women living in City of York took paid maternity leave in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the latest year for which figures are available; how many weeks, on average, they took in each such year; and how much on average they received in maternity pay.

Helen Goodman: The information is not available.

New Deal Schemes: Salford

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Salford have been assisted into work through the New Deal since 1997.

Jim Knight: The jobseeker support regime delivered by Jobcentre Plus has been very successful and the New Deal programme has helped more than 2.2 million people into work since it was introduced in 1998.
	The introduction of the Flexible New Deal will support the Government's aim of helping more people secure sustained employment through tailored, flexible help and support, particularly for those people who experience repeated cycles of unemployment. The Flexible New Deal will be available in most areas of the country by October 2010.
	The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			  New Deal-jobs (spells) jobs gained: Salford parliamentary constituency 
			   Total number of jobs gained 
			 1997 - 
			 1998 150 
			 1999 420 
			 2000 440 
			 2001 370 
			 2002 420 
			 2003 560 
			 2004 660 
			 2005 530 
			 2006 420 
			 2007 510 
			 2008 700 
			 2009 420 
			 Total 5,580 
			  Notes: 1. "-" = nil or negligible. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten; totals do not sum due to rounding. 3. Westminster parliamentary constituency (post May 2005) is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and customer's postcode. 4. Time series is the calendar year that the job was gained. Latest data are to August 2009. 5. Due to changed recording procedures in Jobcentre Plus additional jobs information is now sourced from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 6. The latest New Deal figures are starting to show the effects of the introduction of the new Jobseekers Regime and Flexible New Deal (JRFND). The scheme is being gradually implemented in phase 1 areas from April 2009 and in the remaining phase 2 districts from April 2010. 7. Spells information not available for New Deal 50 plus and New Deal for Partners so individual level information is used. 8. The New Deal for Young People pilots began in January 1998 and full national roll-out occurred in April 1998. 9. The New Deal for 25 plus programme was introduced in July 1998. 10. The New Deal for Lone Parents was introduced in October 1998. 11 .The New Deal for Disabled People was introduced in July 2001. 12. Data on New Deal 50 plus are available from January 2004 (programme was introduced in April 2000). 13. Data for New Deal for Partners are available from April 2004 (programme started in May 1999).  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate

Occupational Pensions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the operation of her Department's rules on anti-enrolment into workforce pension schemes from October 2012 will entail any change to the net salaries of employees whose employers join the scheme.

Angela Eagle: From 2012 automatic enrolment into a workplace pension with a guaranteed employer and Government contribution will begin.
	Jobholders who already receive workplace pension provision equal to or better than that required under the reforms are unlikely to see any change to their net pay.
	The impact of automatic enrolment on net salaries for other jobholders will depend on the level of pension contributions payable into the workplace pension scheme used by the employer.
	Once the workplace pension reforms have been fully introduced, overall contributions to qualifying defined contribution schemes must total at least 8 per cent. on a band of earnings. The 8 per cent. total will be made up from a minimum 3 per cent. from the employer, along with the jobholder's own contribution and around 1 per cent. in tax relief. However, employers can choose to pay a greater proportion of the 8 per cent. total-resulting in a lesser impact on net pay.
	The contribution rates for jobholders are being phased in over time. This will help jobholders to adjust gradually to the impact of the changes on their net pay. Jobholder contributions will be 1 per cent. from October 2012 to September 2016; 3 per cent. from October 2016 to September 2017 and 5 per cent. from 2017 onwards. All of these rates include normal tax relief.
	Defined benefit schemes will be required to meet an overall quality test. The impact upon jobholders' net salaries will depend upon the level of contributions required under scheme rules.

Oikos: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will ensure that the revised safety reports made by  (a) the local planning authority and  (b) the emergency planning authority in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island under the provisions of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 are published as soon as each is completed.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 18 March 2010
	 There is no duty under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) ('COMAH') for the local planning authority or the emergency planning authority to produce safety reports in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island.
	Oikos Storage Ltd. as the COMAH operator is required under the regulations to produce a safety report to demonstrate they are taking all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences to people and the environment.
	The COMAH Competent Authority comprising (in England and Wales) the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the safety report. The Competent Authority does not publish COMAH safety reports.

Oikos: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) improvement notices have been issued and  (b) changes of use have been recorded in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island controlled under the provisions of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 in the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 18 March 2010
	 No improvement notices have been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) in respect of the Oikos site on Canvey Island in the last five years.
	Oikos Storage Ltd. has hazardous substances consent from Castle Point borough council to store at its Canvey Island site up to 232,501 tons of highly flammable liquids. HSE understands that there have been no applications to alter the existing hazardous substances consent for this site in the last five years. This and other planning applications are matters for Castle Point borough council as the local planning authority.

Oikos: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will direct the Health and Safety Executive to examine proposals to store petroleum and similar substances at the Oikos terminal on Canvey Island; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 18 March 2010
	 Oikos Storage Ltd. will be required under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) ('COMAH') to review and, where necessary, revise its COMAH safety report in the light of proposals to store petroleum and similar substances at its Canvey Island site and to demonstrate that it is taking all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and to limit the consequences to people and the environment.
	Such measures will include implementing and maintaining the minimum safety and environmental standards for fuel storage sites. These have been revised following the investigation into the explosion and fires at the Buncefield fuel storage site in December 2005. They have recently been published as the Process Safety Leadership Group's (PSLG) final report which is available on the HSE website.
	The Health and Safety Executive will assess any significant changes that are made to the site and to the COMAH safety report in its role as part of the COMAH Competent Authority.

Pension Credit: East of England

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in  (a) each local authority area in the East of England and  (b) the UK were in receipt of (i) basic state pension and (ii) pension credit in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much on average was received in pension credit in each area in that period;
	(2)  how many people receive pension credit in each local authority area in the East of England; and what the average weekly payment was in the East of England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   People in receipt of basic state pension  March 2009  Individual beneficiaries of pension credit  August 2009  Households in receipt of pension credit  August 2009  Average award of pension credit August 2009 (£) 
			 Great Britain 12,133,400 3,348,970 2,737,290 55.66 
			  
			  East of England local authority area 
			 Bedford 25,800 6,820 5,640 52.92 
			 Central Bedfordshire n/a 9,650 7,870 49.84 
			 Mid-Bedfordshire 23,700 n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Bedfordshire 20,200 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Luton 26,700 9,610 7,650 64.87 
			 Peterborough 26,200 9,090 7,390 57.37 
			 Southend-on-Sea 32,800 10,100 8,420 57.65 
			 Thurrock 22,500 7,130 5,810 55.59 
			 Cambridge 14,900 3,540 3,030 55.95 
			 East Cambridgeshire 14,700 3,610 2,910 52.68 
			 Fenland 21,500 6,690 5,180 50.89 
			 Huntingdonshire 29,900 5,950 4,810 49.78 
			 South Cambridgeshire 27,300 4,370 3,610 51.92 
			 Basildon 31,200 9,490 7,670 54.82 
			 Braintree 27,800 6,920 5,590 51.75 
			 Brentwood 14,600 2,680 2,280 51.32 
			 Castle Point 19,800 5,510 4,280 53.41 
			 Chelmsford 31,200 5,880 4,860 50.82 
			 Colchester 30,000 6,870 5,690 53.29 
			 Epping Forest 26,000 5,710 4,710 56.12 
			 Harlow 13,500 4,430 3,610 51.07 
			 Maldon 14,300 3,180 2,570 53.54 
			 Rochford 18,500 3,880 3,120 50.28 
			 Tendring 42,200 12,250 9,630 53.18 
			 Uttlesford 15,000 2,680 2,190 50.76 
			 Broxbourne 17,000 4,030 3,310 56.66 
			 Dacorum 25,400 5,250 4,370 53.67 
			 East Hertfordshire 23,100 4,450 3,690 52.40 
			 Hertsmere 18,000 3,890 3,290 58.44 
			 North Hertfordshire 24,400 5,270 4,410 49.96 
			 St. Albans 24,000 3,790 3,210 55.09 
			 Stevenage 13,300 4,040 3,300 51.90 
			 Three Rivers 15,800 2,850 2,430 56.57 
			 Watford 12,600 3,070 2,580 58.28 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 17,300 3,990 3,390 52.37 
			 Breckland 30,700 8,090 6,290 49.15 
			 Broadland 31,300 6,080 4,910 46.95 
			 Great Yarmouth 23,000 8,280 6,520 50.09 
			 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk 36,600 10,410 8,020 50.17 
			 North Norfolk 30,200 7,620 5,950 50.00 
			 Norwich 21,900 8,590 7,080 52.49 
			 South Norfolk 29,100 6,340 4,940 48.34 
			 Babergh 21,100 4,300 3,490 48.54 
			 Forest Heath 9,800 2,840 2,280 49.64 
			 Ipswich 21,200 7,220 5,940 54.53 
			 Mid-Suffolk 20,800 4,360 3,460 48.38 
			 St. Edmundsbury 21,800 4,890 3,980 48.42 
			 Suffolk Costal 31,600 6,060 4,890 51.28 
			 Waveney 29,400 8,860 6,970 49.70 
			  Notes: 1. Average weekly award of pension credit in the East of England Government region at August 2009 is £52.75. 2. Numbers in receipt of basic state pension rounded to nearest 100. 3. Pension credit case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Pension credit is claimed on a household basis. The average weekly award of pension credit is in relation to the household. 6. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 7. Latest data for pension credit is for August 2009. 8. Latest data for basic state pension is for March 2009. 9. On 1 April 2009, the reorganisation of the local authorities of England created nine new unitary authorities (UAs). This included Central Bedfordshire unitary authority which was formed from Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire district councils. This is reflected in the table.  Sources:  Basic state pension: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. The figures have been adjusted in line with the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.  Pension credit: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Poverty

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change has been in the number of 
	(1)  adults of working age in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated  (a) before and  (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  pensioners in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated  (a) before and  (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available;
	(3)  children living in households with below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income estimated  (a) before and  (b) after housing costs between 1996-97 and the latest year for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: holding answer 12 March 2010
	The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle adult poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs.
	Relative working age poverty (BHC) has increased over the last decade. However the risk of poverty for working age adults is still below that for children or pensioners (15 per cent. as compared with 23 per cent. for both children and pensioners) and the risk of persistent poverty for this group is also lower than average at 7 per cent. For this reason the Government have targeted additional financial support on families with children and pensioners.
	However, the Government remain committed to ensuring employment and opportunity for all and believe that work, for those who can, remains the best and most sustainable route out of poverty. Over the last decade we have improved the gains to work with the introduction of the national minimum wage and the extension of tax credits and we have invested in employment support to ensure people are not written off. The Government are also supporting people through the difficult economic climate, setting aside £5 billion to help people back into work.
	The Government's declared aim is to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty.
	Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved.
	Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Targeted support, such as pension credit and additional funding for all pensioners has contributed to 900,000 fewer pensioners in relative poverty (measured as below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99.
	The available information is given in the table.
	The latest available information covers 2007-08. Figures covering the UK are most commonly used. However, for 1996-97, only information for Great Britain is available. This means the changes in the numbers of various groups below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income between 1996-97 and 2007-08 can only be calculated for Great Britain.
	
		
			  Change between 1996-97 and 2007-08 in the numbers of working-age adults, pensioners and children in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median incomes and proportion of working-age adults, pensioners and children in such households in 2007-08, before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC), Great Britain (millions) 
			   Children  Working-age adults  Pensioners 
			   BHC  AHC  BHC  AHC  BHC  AHC 
			 Change 1996-97 to 2007-08 (millions) -0.6 -0.5 +0.4 +0.5 0.0 -0.9 
			 Proportion of group in low income households in 2007-08 (per cent.) 23 31 15 21 23 18 
			  Notes:  1. These statistics are based on households below average income, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. Both of these documents are available in the Library.  2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response.  3. The reference period for households below average income figures are single financial years.  4. These statistics cover Great Britain only as figures are only available covering the United Kingdom from 1998-99.  5. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.  6. For the households below average income series, incomes have been equivalised using organisation for economic co-operation and development equivalisation factors.  7. The number of working-age adults, pensioners and children have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand individuals.  Source:  Households Below Average Income, DWP.

Poverty: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of  (a) the general population,  (b) children and  (c) pensioners in Leeds North West constituency were living in poverty in each year since 1997.

Helen Goodman: The Government strongly believe that the best way to tackle poverty is through work. Those in work in the long term are better off than on benefits as training, promotion and career opportunities can enable many workers to attain a better standard of living for themselves and their families. We are therefore placing an increased priority on helping all groups of people, including disabled people and those with health conditions, lone parents and long-term unemployed people get into rewarding and sustainable jobs.
	The Government's declared aim are to eradicate child poverty by 2020. Our determination to do so is as firm as ever and this is demonstrated by introducing the Child Poverty Bill. The Child Poverty Bill will bring new impetus to eradicating child poverty by 2020. It will provide a definition of success and sets a framework to guarantee that Government and their partners at national and local levels make a clear and vital contribution towards ending child poverty.
	Between 1998-99 and 2007-08 some 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. Measures announced in and since Budget 2007 are expected to lift around a further 550,000 children out of poverty. Absolute poverty has been halved.
	Addressing pensioner poverty has been a priority for this Government. We have targeted help on the poorest pensioners, those who need it most, while providing a solid foundation of support for all.
	With the help of targeted support and additional funding there were 900,000 fewer pensioners living in relative poverty (after housing costs) in 2007-08 than in 1998-99.
	Estimates of poverty, published in the Households Below Average Income series, only allow a breakdown of the overall number of people in poverty at Government office region level. Therefore, information for Leeds North East is not available, though figures relating to the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region are.
	Poverty for all individuals is presented both before and after housing costs. Child poverty is presented before housing costs and pensioner poverty is presented after housing costs, in line with the relevant public service agreements. The most commonly used figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income for the three groups.
	Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures are quoted rounded to the nearest percentage point. The percentage of all individuals, children and pensioners in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region who have incomes below 60 per cent. of the contemporary median income is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Proportion of individuals in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before and after housing costs 
			   Proportion of individuals (Percentage) 
			  Period  Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 24 27 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 23 26 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 22 25 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 21 24 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 20 24 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 19 22 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 19 22 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 19 21 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 20 22 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of children in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, before housing costs 
			  Period  Proportion of children (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 32 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 30 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 29 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 27 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 26 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 25 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 25 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 25 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 26 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of pensioners in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median for the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region, after housing costs 
			  Period  Proportion of pensioners (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 32 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 31 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 29 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 26 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 24 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 20 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 17 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 17 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 18 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication "Households Below Average Income" series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. The figures are based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development equivalisation factors. 6. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are. 7. Proportions have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 
		
	
	A local child poverty indicator-including constituency level information-has been developed that captures the number and proportion of children in families in receipt of out of work benefits, or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent. of median income. Details can be found via the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/child_poverty.htm
	The measure enables local partners to make an assessment of the level and geographical distribution of income deprivation in their area and focuses local partners on taking action to help raise family incomes.

Power Stations: Safety

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether her Department has assessed the relative levels of mortality among employees at  (a) coal combustion,  (b) gas combustion,  (c) nuclear fission and  (d) biomass combustion plants in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: No. The Health and Safety Executive has informed me that assessment of the relative levels of mortality among employees at such facilities has not been made.

Sellafield: Safety

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mortality rate was among employees at the nuclear processing site of Sellafield, Cumbria, in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been informed that mortality data on employees is not available to the Health and Safety Executive in the format requested.
	Studies published at intervals by others provide summary information on the mortality experience of Sellafield employees compared to that of the general population, and in relation to radiation exposure. These studies have shown that the overall mortality of Sellafield employees has been better than that of the general population with which they have been compared. However, when the mortality of those specifically exposed to radiation has been studied in relation to the radiation dose they have received it shows the expected pattern of increasing risk of various cancers with increasing radiation exposure.

Social Security Benefits

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) pensioners,  (b) people of working age,  (c) disabled people and  (d) people of all ages received income-related benefits (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the monetary value of such benefits for each group was at each of those dates.

Helen Goodman: The benefit system aims to tackle poverty by providing support for various groups of people: pensioners; unemployed people; lone parents; sick and disabled people; and renters and home owners. It also provides help for the extra costs that disabled people face; and support for carers.
	Means tested benefits support people whose income and capital are below a prescribed level. It guarantees a minimum level of income for people who are either looking for work or are not required to actively seek work because of age, ill health, disability or caring responsibilities. The amount of benefit a person gets depends on their needs (applicable amount) and takes into account any other income (including other benefits) or capital.
	The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Income support ( IS ) and income based jobseeker's allowance (JSA(IB)) claimants-Great Britain May 1997 and August 2009 
			   May 1997  August 2009 
			 IS (non-MIG) 2,263,700 1,955,330 
			  O f which:   
			 Receive IS disability premium 836,200 1,095,870 
			 JSA (IB) 1,181,100 1,055,800 
			  Notes:  1. Income support minimum income guarantee (MIG) claimants aged 60 and over transferred to pension credit in October 2003, for easier comparison May 1997 claimants over 60 have been excluded from the IS figure above and shown along with pension credit claimants. August 2009 figures include a very small number of residual MIG claimants who did not transfer to pension credit.  2. Figures for May 1997 IS/JSA (IB) have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest 100.  3. Figures for August 2009 IS are taken from 100 per cent. data and rounded to the nearest 10.  4. JSA(IB) Benefit Type-The benefit type is defined as pay status at the caseload date -this may differ from the status at the start or end of the claim.  5. JSA(IB) includes a small number of claimants with both contributory based and income based entitlement.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) Information Directorate, 100 per cent., 5 per cent. samples. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Employment and support allowance income based (ESA (IB)) claimants-Great Britain August 2009 
			   Total  Under 60  60-65 
			 ESA(IB) 190,380 186,480 3,900 
			  Notes:  1. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008.  2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  3. ESA (IB) Benefit Type-The benefit type is defined as pay status at the caseload date-this may differ from the status at the start or end of the claim.  4. ESA (IB) includes a small number of claimants with both contributory based and income based entitlement. 5. It is possible for a claimant aged over pension age to claim ESA for a limited period. Therefore age groups for caseload and off flows include a small proportion of claimants aged 65.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Pension credit / income support (aged 60 and over) claimants in Great Britain as at May 1997 and August 2009 
			   IS claimants May 1997  Pension credit August 2009 
			 Total 1,739,100 2,737,290 
			  Notes:  1. Pension credit figure is rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Income support (IS) figures are based on 5 per cent. data and uprated against 100 per cent. WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred.  2. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. These pension credit statistics are produced on a different basis to the early estimates. The latter are more timely but operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in them.  3. These data represent all claimants as this benefit is not paid to anyone aged under 60.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants by age in Great Britain as at May 1997 and August 2009 
			   Total  Aged under 60  Aged 60 and over 
			  May 1977
			 Housing benefit 4,639,000 2,786,000 1,853,000 
			  O f which:
			 Receive a disability premium  709,000 - 
			 Council tax benefit 5,498,000 2,853,000 2,646,000 
			  O f which:
			 Receive a disability premium  781,000 - 
			 
			  August 2009
			 Housing benefit 4,494,560 2,957,630 1,535,960 
			  O f which:
			 Receive a disability premium  - -- 
			 Council tax benefit 5,519,390 2,931,800 2,586,710 
			  O f which:
			 Receive a disability premium  - - 
			  Notes:  1. The May 1997 figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.  2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  3. August 2009 figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, May 1997 figures to the nearest thousand.  4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases.  5. Single housing benefit extract (SHBE) is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and November 2009 is the most recent available. To be consistent with other benefits August data is shown.  6. There will be overlaps in data between housing benefit and council tax Benefit, and between housing benefit and council tax benefit and other benefits.  7. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when the claimant starts working full time, works more hours or earns more money.  8. - denotes not available. The breakdown from the 1997 1 per cent. sample is by client group, there is no breakdown available of disabled within the pension client group. Breakdown by disability is not available on SHBE.  9. Comparison of these figures should be treated with caution due to the sampling variation in the May 1997 data.   Source:  Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)-August 2009. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken from May 1997. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Benefit expenditure 
			  £ million 
			   1997-98  2008-09 
			   Nominal terms  Real terms  Nominal terms  Real terms 
			  Pensioners 
			 Income support for people age 60 and over / minimum income guarantee / pension credit 3,721 4,940 7,794 7,950 
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 3,781 5,019 5,570 5,681 
			 Council tax benefit 1,080 1,433 2,163 2,206 
			 Total 8,582 11,392 15,526 15,837 
			  
			  Working age 
			 Income support for under 60s 6,094 8,090 7,148 7,291 
			 Jobseeker's allowance-income-based 3,088 4,100 2,129 2,172 
			 Employment and support allowance-income based 0 0 63 64 
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 7,396 9,818 11,554 11,785 
			 Council tax benefit 1,315 1,746 2,072 2,113 
			 Total 17,894 23,753 22,966 23,425 
			  
			  O f which disabled 
			 Income support 2,809 3,729 4,616 4,709 
			 Housing benefit 1,782 2,366 4,244 4,329 
			 Council tax benefit 367 487 870 887 
			  
			  All ages 
			 Income support all ages including pension credit and minimum income guarantee 9,815 13,030 14,942 15,241 
			 Jobseeker's allowance-income based 3,088 4,100 2,129 2,172 
			 Employment and support allowance-income based 0 0 63 64 
			 Housing benefit 11,177 14,837 17,123 17,466 
			 Council tax benefit 2,395 3,179 4,235 4,319 
			 Total 26,475 35,145 38,492 39,262 
			  Notes:  1. For consistency figures exclude child elements of income support and jobseeker's allowance, which have now mostly been replaced by child tax credit payments administered by HM Revenue  Customs.  2. Expenditure on disabled people is for working age only, based on receipt of disability premium in the income-related benefits. Such information for pensioners is not available, as there is no equivalent premium in pension credit.  3. Because of changes in data sources figures for housing benefit and council tax benefit may not be completely consistent between 1997-98 and 2007-08.  4. Figures may not sum due to rounding.   Source:  DWP Accounting Data.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number of applications for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance to be approved in each of the next five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 March 2010
	In line with HM Treasury convention, forecasts of benefit expenditure and related volumes are not published beyond the current spending review period. Information on the estimated and forecast number of new awards for attendance allowance and disability living allowance in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is contained in the table.
	The figures should not be seen as indicative of the total claimant count estimates for disability living allowance or attendance allowance over the same period as they do not account for off-flows.
	
		
			  Estimate of numbers of new awards for disability living allowance and attendance allowance in 2009-10 and 2010-11 
			   Disability living allowance  Attendance allowance 
			 2009-10 277,000 327,000 
			 2010-11 279,000 330,000 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 1,000. 2. Estimates in the table include new awards only. It does not include the number of renewal claims likely to be successful as these people are already claiming the benefits and this information is not estimated separately.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Statistical data and Pre-Budget Report forecasts

Social Security Benefits: Disabled

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average monetary value of  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance paid to claimants under special rules was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Average weekly amount in payment for disability living allowance special rules cases in payment at August 2009 
			   £ 
			 All 117.05 
		
	
	
		
			  Average weekly amount in payment for attendance allowance special rules cases in payment at August 2009 
			   £ 
			 All 70.35 
			  Note: All recipients under special rules are entitled to the higher rate care component.  Caution: The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5 per cent. sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100 per cent. total for the benefit. The figures have been rated to agree with Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study totals.  Source: Work and Pensions Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample

Sweet Concepts

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer by the Cabinet Office Minister of 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 156W, on Central Office of Information: marketing, what promotional products were purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive; and at what cost.

Jonathan R Shaw: In 2006, the Health and Safety Executive purchased through COI tea bags with a campaign strapline take a moment not a fall printed on the outside of the packet at a cost of £6,610 plus VAT from Sweet Concepts Ltd. These items were part of a nationally co-ordinated publicity, education and inspection campaign about the risks of working at height. The target audience were people involved in building and plant maintenance. The idea behind the tea bag was to promote discussions around safe working practices at workers' break time.

Winter Fuel Payments: Greater Manchester

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) the City of Manchester and  (b) Manchester Central constituency have received a winter fuel payment since introduction of the scheme.

Angela Eagle: Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 is not available. The information on individual payments made from winter 1999-2000 is in the following table.
	
		
			   Manchester local authority  Manchester central constituency 
			 1999-2000 60,870 11,810 
			 2000-01 64,365 12,560 
			 2001-02 63,355 12,370 
			 2002-03 62,640 12,295 
			 2003-04 61,950 12,160 
			 2004-05 60,085 11,795 
			 2005-06 59,310 11,660 
			 2006-07 58,870 11,560 
			 2007-08 59,350 11,650 
			 2008-09 59,790 11,700 
			  Notes:  1. Figures up to 2004-05 are rounded to the nearest five  2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards are rounded to the nearest 10.  3. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source:  Information Directorate 100 per cent. data.

Work Capability Assessment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the highest and lowest salaries were paid to  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses on (i) part-time and (ii) full-time contracts by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments under her Department's contract with Atos Origin in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP do not hold any information regarding the amounts paid to Atos Healthcare staff.
	The setting of salaries is a matter between the provider and their employees.

Work Capability Assessment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average number of days worked by  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses employed on part-time contracts by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments was under her Department's contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Work Capability Assessment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average salary paid to  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time contracted (i) doctors and (ii) nurses by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments was under her Department's contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DWP do not hold any information regarding the amounts paid to Atos Healthcare staff.
	The setting of salaries is a matter between the provider and their employees.

Work Capability Assessment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses were employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time by Atos Healthcare for the purpose of undertaking incapacity benefit and/or employment and support allowance assessments under her Department's contract with Atos Origin in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is as follows:
	 (a) (i) The number of contracted (sessional) part-time doctors employed by Atos Healthcare is as follows:
	End February 2010-644
	End February 2009-758
	End February 2008-880
	End February 2007-978
	Please note that not all contracted doctors will undertake ESA/IB assessments-however at February 2010 there were 539 who were.
	 (a) (ii) The number of doctors who are full-time medical advisers (FTMA's) employed by Atos Healthcare for the completion of ESA/IB medical assessments expressed as full-time equivalents.
	End February 2010-242
	End February 2009-239
	End February 2008-243
	End February 2007-240
	Full-time equivalents are those doctors who work directly for Atos Healthcare but may have different working patterns.
	 (b) (i) There are no nurses employed by Atos Healthcare as contracted (sessional) nurses.
	 (b) (ii) The number of nurses employed by Atos Healthcare for the completion of ESA/IB medical assessments expressed as full-time equivalents.
	End February 2010-265
	End February 2009-181
	End February 2008-104
	End February 2007-41

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Asylum

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking with the Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to improve the humanitarian situation in the camps for Rohingya refugees on the Bangladesh-Burma border.

Douglas Alexander: We have raised the plight of the Rohinygas and their status with the Government of Bangladesh, both bilaterally and in concert with EU partners. Most recently, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster), raised the conditions of the Rohingyas in the camps with the Minister for the Environment and Forests during a meeting in London on 17 March. Officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka, including the High Commissioner, have visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas. Officials also held discussions with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 15 March in Dhaka.

Burma: Asylum

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to provide assistance for Rohingya refugees in camps on the Bangladesh-Burma border.

Douglas Alexander: UK support is channelled through our central contributions to the European Commission and United Nations agencies. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) manages the official camps. UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund also work with the refugees within the camps or in the surrounding communities. The European Commission is providing financial support.
	We have raised the plight of the Rohinygas and their status with the Government of Bangladesh, both bilaterally and in concert with EU partners. Officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka, including the High Commissioner, have visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department allocates to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of the WWF Global Forest and Trade Network.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not allocate funding to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of the WWF Global Forest and Trade network.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department's staff in the last five years; and at what cost.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development has built one smoking shelter, in the last five years, at their office in East Kilbride, Glasgow at a cost of £753.27.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) created a small staff gymnasium in our office in East Kilbride in October 2005. This was part of a wider refurbishment project and the costs of the gymnasium cannot be separately identified. The gymnasium in our London office was redecorated in October 2009 at a cost of £2,589. There has been no other expenditure in our UK offices over the last five years on rooms provided for staff leisure.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides subsidised gym facilities in both our UK offices.

Departmental Information Officers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 720W, on departmental information officers, what the  (a) title and  (b) division is of each of the embedded communicator posts.

Michael Foster: The following posts include embedded communications staff employed primarily in a communications role outside the central communications unit at the Department for International Development (DFID).
	
		
			   Department  Title 
			 1. Evaluation Department Communications Adviser 
			 2. Human Resources Division Internal Communications and E-Content Manager 
			 3. Knowledge and Information Management Team Change and Communications Manager 
			 4. Information Systems Department Communications Specialist 
			 5. Country programmes - Africa Division Head of Communications, Africa 
			 6. Country programmes -Africa Division Communications Officer 
			 7. Ghana Country Office Communications and Information Manager 
			 3. Kenya and Somalia Country Office Communications Officer 
			 9 Malawi Country Office Strategic Communications Officer 
			 10. Mozambique Country Office Communications Officer 
			 11. Rwanda Country Office Communications and IT Officer 
			 12. South African Country Office Communications Adviser 
			 13. Tanzania Country Office Media and Communications Adviser 
			 14 Uganda Country Office Head of Communications 
			 15. Country programmes - Middle East, Caribbean, Asia and British Overseas Territories Head of Communications, MECAB 
			 16. Country programmes - South Asia Strategy and Operations Head of Communications, SASO 
			 17. Afghanistan Country Office Press Officer 
			 13. Afghanistan Country Office Communications Manager 
			 19. India Country Office Communications Adviser 
			 20. India Country Office External Communications and Press Officer 
			 21. Nepal Country Office Communications Manager 
			 22. Pakistan Country Office Communications Officer 
			 23. Pakistan Country Office Head of Communications and Policy Support 
			 24. Policy and Research Department Head of Policy and Research Communications 
			 25. Policy and Research Department PRD Communications Team Leader 
			 26. Policy and Research Department GIG, Food and Agriculture Adviser 
			 27. Policy and Research Department E Communications Manager 
			 28. Policy and Research Department Online Communications 
			 29. Policy and Research Department Internal Communications, Planning, Publications 
			 30. Policy and Research Department Head of Communications and Secretariat 
			 31. Policy and Research Department Communications Manager 
			 32. Policy and Research Department Communications Manager- Climate Change 
			 33. Policy and Research Department Communications Adviser 
			 34. International Directorate - Director's Office Strategic Communications Adviser 
			 35. International Directorate - Europe Department Senior Communications Officer 
			 36. Stabilisation Unit Strategic Communications Adviser 
		
	
	This does not include other staff who have the status of embedded communicators, but who work primarily on non-communications functions or technical support.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1414W, on departmental temporary staff, how much was paid to  (a) Manpower,  (b) Margaret Hodge and  (c) Josephine Sammons for services relating to the recruitment of temporary staff in each of the last three years.

Michael Foster: Our records show that the following amounts were paid to Manpower, Margaret Hodge and Josephine Sammons for services relating to the recruitment of temporary staff in the last three financial years.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2009-10( 1)  2008-09  2007-08 
			 Manpower 120,618 77,413 4,438 
			 Margaret Hodge 223,679 305,299 213,993 
			 Josephine Sammons 5,414 30,178 222,822 
			 (1) Financial year 2009-10 up to 24 March 2010.

Indonesia: Climate Change

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditions are attached to the £50 million funding to Indonesia announced in Davos on 29 January 2010 to help fight climate change by tackling deforestation; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that these funds are not used by the palm oil industry.

Gareth Thomas: None of the £50 million will go to oil palm companies. DFID hopes to build on work the UK has begun with the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to agree credible environmental production standards and to secure their use by both producers and buyers. This could involve funding the RSPO itself, academic institutions supporting it and associated NGO networks. DFID expects that most of the funding will support programmes managed by organisations such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, Oxfam, Transparency International and local non-government organisations who have rigorous auditing and accounting procedures and employ anti-corruption safeguards.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the amount of charitable fundraising carried out in the UK for humanitarian purposes in Gaza via the Union of Good.

Michael Foster: The Department of International Development (DFID) has not made an assessment of the amount of charitable fundraising carried out in the UK for humanitarian purposes in Gaza via the Union of Good.
	The Union of Good is not a registered charity in the UK.

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has funded in Sierra Leone since 2000; and how much his Department has spent on each.

Gareth Thomas: Details of projects funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) in Sierra Leone from 2004 onwards can be found on the DFID website at:
	http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/
	Projects from the beginning of 2000 until mid-2004 are provided in the following table with individual commitment figures. Precise expenditure figures could be extracted from historic data only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Project title  Start date  Commitment (£) 
			 Budget Support for Government of Sierra Leone 2000 26 January 2000 5,500,000 
			 Police: Training for Public Order Activities 1 February 2000 650,000 
			 Media project with Government of Sierra Leone: Redesign Team 1 February 2000 11,000 
			 Budget Support and debt relief-2000-01 1 March 2000 24,555,000 
			 Short wave transmitter: Peace Building 1 March 2000 127,000 
			 Budget Support 2000-Technical Cooperation Component 1 March 2000 41,000 
			 Primary Health Care, Bo District 25 April 2000 632,000 
			 Government of Sierra Leone Budget Planning 26 May 2000 303,000 
			 Post Peace Radio Equipment 30 May 2000 256,000 
			 Campaign for Good Governance 30 May 2000 195,000 
			 Emergency Seeds and Tools Assistance 31 May 2000 487,000 
			 Humanitarian Assistance to the Sierra Leone Police Force 31 May 2000 350,000 
			 Police Project Community Safety 6 Year programme 1 June 2000 27,148,000 
			 Water, Sanitation and Shelter 27 July 2000 190,000 
			 Integrated Community Environment and Agriculture project 4 September 2000 85,000 
			 National Workshop Emergency Watsan and Shelter Response CARE INTERNATIONAL 11 September 2000 50,000 
			 Newly Displaced people 1 October 2000 302,000 
			 Emergency Healthcare Response Programme 9 October 2000 291,000 
			 Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission Project: 8 Year Project 1 November 2000 5,545,000 
			 UK/EL) engineering Technical Support 1 November 2000 500,000 
			 Government of Sierra Leone: Medium Term Expenditure Framework 1 November 2000 87,000 
			 Refurbishment MoD HQ Paramount Hotel Technical Cooperation 29 November 2000 100,000 
			 ICRC Sierra Leone Programme 21 December 2000 2,000,000 
			 Conciliation Resources 31 January 2001 76,000 
			 Social Development coordinator 1 February 2001 71,000 
			 Support to Demobilisation Process 98 1 February 2001 60,000 
			 Government Assistance Programme: British Council Project 13 February 2001 1,277,000 
			 Budget Bureau-Stuart Kane 26 February 2001 60,000 
			 Community Development Initiative Pujehun: 5 Year project 1 March 2001 14,400,000 
			 Transition to Development: Refugee camps water/Sanitation 1 March 2001 850,000 
			 Refurbishment Ministry of Defence HQ Paramount Hotel 14 March 2001 1,024,000 
			 UK Contribution UNICEF 30 March 2001 1,000,000 
			 Adult literacy training 30 March 2001 4,000 
			 Technical assistance to National Commission-Reconstruction Rehabilitation Reintegration 1 April 2001 290,000 
			 International Medical Corps: health care in Disarmament Demobilisation Reintegration centres 1 April 2001 150,000 
			 Debt Recording and Management system project 1 April 2001 8,000 
			 Mercy Ships: New Steps 20 April 2001 111,000 
			 Medical Research Centre Tonkolili 26 April 2001 1,195,000 
			 Media Development Project: Training 21 May 2001 800,000 
			 Support to Ferry 29 May 2001 10,000 
			 Assist Nat Commission Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration 1 June 2001 45,000 
			 Budget Support to Gov of Sierra Leone 2001-04 1 August 2001 30,000,000 
			 Governance Reform Secretariat Phase 1: 7 Year Programme 8 August 2001 4,050,000 
			 Strategy for the diamond producing areas 21 August 2001 440,000 
			 World Bank Country Profile 28 November 2001 19,000 
			 Budget support to Gov of Sierra Leone 2001-2004 19 February 2002 400,000 
			 Second Governance and Corruption Survey 13 March 2002 155,000 
			 UNICEF Water/sanitation 26 March 2002 500,000 
			 ICRC Resettlement, Internally Displaced Peoples 26 March 2002 500,000 
			 WHO-Health sector, Internally Displaced People Needs 26 March 2002 100,000 
			 Post Flood Seed Distribution 10 April 2002 75,000 
			 Sierra Leone: UNDP: Junior Programme Officer 22 April 2002 194,000 
			 GTZ: ReAct: Programme in Kono and Kailahun: 3 Year project 31 May 2002 3,350,000 
			 Promoting Peace, Security and Stability in Sierra Leone 1 June 2002 747,000 
			 Chiefdom Governance Review 26 June 2002 45,000 
			 Support to Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys 2 July 2002 290,000 
			 Merlin Medical Research Centre 29 August 2002 50,000 
			 Social Development 19 September 2002 40,000 
			 Establishing access to emergency primary health Merlin Kono 1 October 2002 563,000 
			 Civil Society Strategy 1 October 2002 103,000 
			 Internally Displaced People Resettlement Programme 1 October 2002 50,000 
			 CARE: Food Security Rights-Based Approach 1 November 2002 232,000 
			 Social Development Adviser FREETOWN 20 November 2002 70,000 
			 Decentralisation  Local Government 1 December 2002 500,000 
			 100% Debt Relief for Sierra Leone to UK's ECGD 1 January 2003 500,000 
			 Sexual Assault. Referral. Centres. (SARC) 4 February 2003 921,000 
			 Operation PEBU: Housing and sanitation: 5 year project 1 March 2003 4,000,000 
			 Liberian and Ivorian Refugees 20 March 2003 600,000 
			 ICRC APPEAL 2003 Sierra Leone 20 March 2003 500,000 
			 Care of Liberian Refugees 20 March 2003 500,000 
			 Control of Vaccine Preventable Diseases 20 Mar 2003 400,000 
			 Improve Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 31 March 2003 1,362,000 
			 Local Government Elections 1 June 2003 4,100,000 
			 Phase V Health Care Tonkolili 11 July 2003 423,000 
			 Support of Civil Society Good Governance and Human Rights 22 August 2003 741,000 
			 Judges and Prosecutor 1 October 2003 350,000 
			 Investment Environment 19 January 2004 23,000 
			 Support to Improved Services 1 March 2004 50,000 
			 UNICEF Malaria Prevention 17 March 2004 400,000 
			 UNICEF Immunisation Programme 18 March 2004 500,000 
			 UNHCR Assistance to Liberian Refugees 18 March 2004 400,000 
			 Civil and Political Rights 19 March 2004 350,000 
			 ICRC APPEAL 2004 Sierra Leone 19 March 2004 200,000 
			 Oxfam GB's Women in Leadership 29 March 2004 171,000 
			 Youth Empowerment Programme: 5 Year programme 1 April 2004 1,159,000 
			 Merlin Lassa Emergency Funds 13 May 2004 103,000 
			 Community Development Programme 1 June 2004 111,000

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made to reducing the level of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone in the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: We are providing £16 million over three years specifically to improve the reproductive health of women in Sierra Leone.
	In Sierra Leone the Department for International Development (DFID) has developed a Gender Action Plan to track its performance on a quarterly basis. The action plan has five key gender indicators, including the establishment of an informed public debate on female genital mutilation. We have been working closely with the World Bank, EU and African Development Bank to promote this discussion along with improving our joint work on gender issues more broadly. DFID has also collaborated with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to organise a forum with civil society counterparts on female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided to the Social Welfare Ministry in Sierra Leone in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not provided direct financial support to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs (MSWGCA) in the last 12 months. DFID is supporting the International Rescue Committee UK (IRC UK) which is working closely with MSWGCA to implement the 2007 Gender Acts in Sierra Leone. Over the last 12 months IRC has spent £8,000 in UK aid on activities in direct support of the Ministry. As a condition of receiving assistance all NGOs including IRC have to submit annual audited statements as well as quarterly financial and reports.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms exist for  (a) parents and  (b) staff to submit complaints about the operation of academies.

Vernon Coaker: Academies are required by the independent school standards regulations to have a complaints procedure which must be available on request to parents. The procedure must provide for complaints to be managed within clear time scales. If initial informal consideration does not resolve the complaint, then the procedure must also include steps to escalate a complaint through both a formal written stage and, if necessary, a hearing before a panel that includes at least one member who is independent of the academy.
	If the complaint cannot be resolved at school level from the 1 April 2010, the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) will be the next route of redress. The YPLA will review the evidence provided by the complainant and the academy to determine if the academy has followed its own complaints procedure or is in breach of a contractual or statutory obligation. If the academy has not followed its procedures or obligations it will be asked to do so to rectify any failings.
	Ultimately a complaint can be referred to the Secretary of State on the grounds that a governing body is acting or proposing to act unreasonably or on the grounds that either has failed to discharge its duties. The same procedure as stated above also applies to staff who want to complain about academies.

Academies

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what budgetary provision he has made for the Young People's Learning Agency to offer  (a) support and  (b) challenge of academies in 2010-11.

Vernon Coaker: Provision has been made for £6.3 million to both support and challenge academies in financial year 2010-11, through School Improvement Partners, National Challenge Advisers, other education advisers and support delivered through the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In addition some academies will receive National Challenge funding in the same way that maintained schools do. These budgets will be held with the Department for Children, Schools and Families until the function for educational support and challenge of open academies transfers to the Young People's Learning Agency in September 2010.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the total cost to each local education partnership of all completed Building Schools for the Future projects.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 March 2010
	Information about the total cost to each local education partnership of all completed major building projects within the Building Schools for the Future programme is set out in the following table. The information has been provided for those projects where actual costs are available. Estimated figures have not been provided for those projects where figures have not been validated.
	
		
			  Local authority  School  Total project cost (£) 
			 Bradford Titus Salt School 26,082,591 
			 Bradford Tong High School 30,045,100 
			 Bradford Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College 28,272,307 
			 Bristol Bristol Brunei Academy 24,908,803 
			 Bristol Brislington Enterprise College 32,517,689 
			 Bristol Bristol Metropolitan College 24,748,262 
			 Bristol The Bridge Learning Campus (1)- 
			 Durham Durham Johnston (1)- 
			 Hackney Stoke Newington School (Phase 1) (1)- 
			 Hackney Clapton Girls Technology College (1)- 
			 Haringey John Loughborough 4,374,308 
			 Haringey Highgate Wood Secondary School 4,901,300 
			 Haringey Alexandra Park School 3,767,500 
			 Haringey Gladesmore Community School 11,000,100 
			 Haringey Hornsey School for Girls 4,884,500 
			 Haringey Park View Academy 12,818,100 
			 Haringey Northumberland Park Community School 16,548,600 
			 Islington Holloway School (1)- 
			 Islington Highbury Grove + New Sixth Form 29,682,442 
			 Islington Samuel Rhodes SEN School 7,801,212 
			 Kent Dane Court School 20,257,678 
			 Kent The Community College Whitstable 15,709,175 
			 Kent Northfleet School for Girls (phase 1) 16,896,846 
			 Kent St. George's Church of England Foundation School (phase 1) 21,632,574 
			 Knowsley All Saints Centre for Learning 22,717,419 
			 Knowsley St. Edmunds Arrowsmith Centre for Learning 22,756,312 
			 Knowsley Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning 24,270,537 
			 Knowsley Knowsley Park Centre for Learning - serving Prescot, Whitson and the wider community 22,554,109 
			 Knowsley Kirkby Sports College 23,318,863 
			 Knowsley Christ the King Catholic and Church of England Centre for Learning 21,544,188 
			 Knowsley Halewood Centre for Learning 25,907,121 
			 Lambeth Stockwell Park 27,405,971 
			 Lambeth Elm Court Special School 8,594,996 
			 Lambeth Park Campus 6,453,801 
			 Lambeth The Michael Tippett School 7,314,003 
			 Lambeth Elmgreen School (temporary accommodation) 25,019,726 
			 Lancashire Sir John Thursby Community College 33,520,972 
			 Lancashire Burnley Campus (Thomas Whitham Sixth Form) 31,443,101 
			 Lancashire Pendle Vale Campus 29,110,960 
			 Lancashire Shuttleworth College 18,086,760 
			 Leeds Swallow Hill Community College 30,082,904 
			 Leeds Allerton Grange 28,010,373 
			 Leeds Cockburn College of Arts (1)- 
			 Leeds Allerton High School 23,473,509 
			 Leeds Pudsey Grangefield School 21,992,309 
			 Leeds Rodillian School 27,854,391 
			 Leeds Temple Moor High School (1)- 
			 Leeds Crawshaw (1)- 
			 Leicester Soar Valley College 20,870,870 
			 Leicester Judgemeadow Community College 15,977,428 
			 Leicester Beaumont Leys 14,098,418 
			 Leicester Fullhurst Community College 11,887,293 
			 Lewisham Catford 19,891,414 
			 Lewisham Sedgehill 36,978,754 
			 Liverpool Lower Lee SEN School (1)- 
			 Manchester Enterprise Academy (1)- 
			 Manchester Health Academy (1)- 
			 Manchester Our Lady's RC Sports College (Higher Blackley Education Village) (1)- 
			 Manchester St. Matthews RC High School (1)- 
			 Manchester Newall Green High School 15,750,974 
			 Manchester Gorton Education Village 21,972,628 
			 Manchester St. Paul's and Piper Hill 22,707,211 
			 Manchester Gorton Education Village (Melland High School) (1)- 
			 Manchester Meade Hill (Part of Higher Blackley Education Village) (1)- 
			 Manchester Buglawton Hall (1)- 
			 Newcastle Kenton School 34,182,913 
			 Newcastle Benfield School (phase 1 of refurb) 11,950,826 
			 Newcastle Walbottle Campus Technology College 34,892,016 
			 Newcastle Thomas Bewick (Previous PFI delivered by LEP) 9,342,697 
			 Newham Brampton Manor School 8,499,260 
			 Nottingham Big Wood 19,204,412 
			 Nottingham Hadden Park High School (phase 1) 11,975,940 
			 Sheffield Yewlands Technology College (two phases) 19,010,769 
			 Sheffield Talbot Special School 12,032,641 
			 Sheffield Newfield Secondary School 24,665,265 
			 Sheffield Silverdale Secondary School 27,034,073 
			 Solihull Archbishop Grimshaw Catholic School 22,313,974 
			 Solihull Smith's Wood 23,941,041 
			 Solihull Park Hall School 22,288,417 
			 Solihull Lanchester School 8,637,217 
			 South Tyneside Mortimer Community College 10,165,175 
			 South Tyneside Jarrow School 17,513,966 
			 Sunderland Red House Academy (1)- 
			 Sunderland Castle View Enterprise Academy (1)- 
			 Sunderland Academy 360 (1)- 
			 Sunderland Washington School (1)- 
			 Waltham Forest Walthamstow School for Girls 18,231,000 
			 Waltham Forest Frederick Bremer 20,061,000 
			 Waltham Forest Kelmscott School 11,115,000 
			 Westminster Westminster City Boys 14,818,603 
			 Westminster St. Marylebone CE 17,155,000 
			 Westminster Pimlico 33,286,000 
			 (1) Total project cost awaiting validation 
		
	
	The total project cost includes all elements that go into the construction of a school building. This includes: the cost of the building; the fixed and loose furniture and equipment; cost incurred to the building beyond the designer's control; external works; contractor's preliminaries; professional fees; overheads and profit; inflation during the construction period; and contingencies.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the geographical location of subcontractors tendering for work under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Vernon Coaker: The Department has issued no guidance to local authorities on the geographical location of subcontractors tendering for work under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. It is for each local authority in the BSF programme to determine its own approach to the use of local contractors bearing in mind local employment initiatives and ensuring that that the local authority acts in compliance with its obligations under procurement law.

Children: Abuse

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to bring forward proposals for the protection of children in suspected cases of domestic violence.

Diana Johnson: Keeping children safe from all forms of abuse is a top priority for the Government. The Government recognise the strong links between safeguarding concerns and domestic violence. All professionals working with or who come into contact with children and their families, including those working in health or education, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. If they have reason to believe that a child is at risk from harm as a result of domestic violence, they should follow the same steps to raise this concern as they would for any other child at risk of abuse. 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2010) and 'What To Do If You're Worried a Child Is Being Abused' (2006) provide guidance for professionals on the impact of domestic violence on children and stress the need for awareness of those links.
	The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit and the National Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Steering Group chaired by the Home Office will be working with key partners over the next few months to develop guidance for local MARAC partnerships to ensure that the cases of children which are most at risk of harm in families affected by domestic violence are indentified and prioritised.

Children: Abuse

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's policy is on helping children affected by domestic abuse through  (a) training professionals to consider the needs of the children involved and  (b) provision of support services for children and families affected.

Diana Johnson: Keeping children safe from all forms of harm, including the effects of domestic violence, is a top priority for the Government.
	Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have a responsibility to ensure that single-agency and inter-agency training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is provided in order to meet local needs. LSCBs should also evaluate the quality of the training, ensuring that relevant training is provided by individual organisations and checking that the training is reaching the relevant staff within organisations.
	The Government are providing over £170 million for 2009-11 for local authorities, working with partners, to implement Think Family reforms and projects to secure better outcomes for children and families with additional needs, including those affected by domestic violence. Key to these reforms and projects is co-ordinating the support these families receive from children, adult and family services. In particular, family intervention projects are working intensively with families with complex needs, including those affected by domestic violence, through key workers and multi-agency whole family support plans. The Government have committed to expand family intervention projects to 10,000 families a year from 2012-13.

Children: Social Services

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take under the new burdens commitment to fund local authorities to implement recommendations made following investigations of the circumstances surrounding the death of Baby P.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 March 2010
	Following the tragic case of Baby Peter, Ministers asked Lord Laming to prepare an independent report on progress nationally on child protection. Lord Laming published his report in March 2009 and the Government accepted all his recommendations. We announced a new £58 million Social Work Transformation Fund to provide an immediate boost for social work training, support, recruitment and retention. This is in addition to the £73 million for the children and families' social work workforce already allocated from 2008 to 2011 and the £100 million each year to fund social worker initial training, bursaries and practice placements.
	Following consultation, we will shortly be publishing revised statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children to reflect Lord Laming's recommendations, recognise changes in the policy landscape, and help clarify roles and responsibilities between organisations and agencies. Local areas should already be delivering effective arrangements to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, and the revisions to the guidance will re-emphasise the need for the consistent application of effective practice.

Children: Social Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber approved an extension of the deadline for the publication of the serious case review into the death of Child BO5 in Doncaster; and for what reasons on each occasion.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 22 March 2010
	Child BO5 died in October 2004 and the serious case review was initiated in November 2005. No procedure existed at that time whereby Local Safeguarding Children Boards were expected to discuss the proposed extension of deadlines for the completion of serious case reviews with Government offices for the regions. Accordingly, the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber played no part in extending of the deadline for the Child BO5 serious case review.

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12 months.

Diana Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement about the cost of ministerial cars made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 79-80WS.
	For the cost of cars to officials, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 2 December 2009,  Official Report, column 762W.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on  (a) consultants,  (b) advertising,  (c) publishing,  (d) public relations,  (e) professional training and  (f) other activities for each programme campaign (i) run by the Department and (ii) commissioned from other organisations in (A) 2005-06, (B) 2006-07, (C) 2007-08 and (D) 2008-09; and which organisations ran each campaign which was not run by his Department.

Diana Johnson: Promotional campaigns, including those using advertising, are funded from the Department's central Advertising and Publicity Budget and from individual programme budgets held by policy directorates. It is therefore not possible to establish a definitive figure for all advertising and promotion, except at disproportionate cost.
	Advertising is part of a full integrated promotional campaign. We are able to separate the Department's spend on campaign advertising, as this is centrally placed through the Central Office of Information. These figures are media total and exclude production, fees and VAT and are outlined in Table A.
	Public relations agencies are employed for specific communications tasks, most commonly working alongside our press office to provide campaign support in local, regional and specialist media. The Department's expenditure on public relations is outlined in Table B.
	There has been no professional training undertaken for campaigns in the four years in question.
	The nature and diversity of consultancy streams that may have been used since 2005 means that a full survey of spend would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to publications and other activities cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table A: Advertising 
			   Total spend (£) 
			 2005-06 8,300,254 
			 2006-07 6,573,885 
			 2007-08 4,659,786 
			 2008-09 13,891,106 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Public relations 
			   Total spend (£) 
			 2005-06 596,545 
			 2006-07 1,168,869 
			 2007-08 2,333,000 
			 2008-09 4,023,403

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 23 March 2010
	The Department seeks to answer all parliamentary questions that do not incur disproportionate cost. The methodology used to determine whether answers to these questions could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost was the Department's guidance on the Calculation of the Disproportionate Cost threshold for answering PQs which is based on the guidance published on the Cabinet Office's website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/chapter7.aspx
	Officials in the Department have concluded that answering these questions in full would exceed the current disproportionate cost threshold of £800 as announced in Parliament by the Treasury on the 20 January 2010. These questions are very broad in scope covering all of the Department's policies over a number of years. To identify the effects of all policies on an individual constituency, collate all of the data and carry out the necessary quality assurance would require a considerable amount of resource, far in excess of the threshold. The round robin guidance issued by the Treasury for these questions advised directing questioners to the Neighbourhood Statistics Service website. However, while the Department has placed considerable amounts of data on this website, it is not at constituency level. My officials, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, decided to answer the questions by providing the requested information which was readily available and provided readily available attainment data at constituency level and a link to the Department's In Your Area website where the Department publishes further local level data including data at parliamentary constituency level. It would only be possible for the Department to provide additional information by exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold.

Education: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding has been provided by his Department  (a) for education maintenance allowances,  (b) under the Entry to Employment programme and  (c) under the Behaviour Improvement programme since the introduction of each such scheme; and how many people in Birmingham have received assistance under each of those schemes.

Iain Wright: Investment in education maintenance allowance (EMA), Entry to Employment (E2E) and the Behaviour Improvement programme (BIP) provision since the introduction of the schemes is shown for each year in the following tables:
	
		
			  EMA 
			   £  million 
			 1999-2000 11 
			 2000-01 52 
			 2001-02 109 
			 2002-03 120 
			 2003-04 142 
			 2004-05 260 
			 2005-06 407 
			 2006-07 503 
			 2007-08 533 
			 2008-09 532 
			 2009-10 569 
		
	
	
		
			  E2E Funding 
			   £ 
			 2002-03 73,588 
			 2003-04 206,329 
			 2004-05 246,583 
			 2005-06 222,373 
			 2006-07 186,815 
			 2007-08 174,853 
			 2008-09 170,000 
			 2009-10 223,000 
		
	
	
		
			  BIP 
			  £ 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  Total 
			 Phase 1 29,225,003 48,653,015 44,200,000 38,542,400 160,620,418 
			 Phase 2 - 36,400,000 33,850,000 29,525,600 99,775,600 
			 Phase 3 - - 20,280,000 19,088,000 39,368,000 
			 Phase 4 - - - 39,000,000 39,000,000 
			 Total 29,225,003 85,053,015 98,330,000 126,156,000 338,764,018 
		
	
	The following tables show the number of young people in Birmingham who have benefited from EMA and E2E. Data are not held on the number of young people in Birmingham who have benefited from the BIP.
	
		
			  EMA 
			  Area type  Area name   Number of people 
			 LA Birmingham 2004/05 12,749 
			   2005/06 14,182 
			   2006/07 16,593 
			   2007/08 17,117 
			   2008/09(1) 17,516 
			   2009/10(2) 18,599 
			 (1 )Year to date for 2009/10 (up-to-date as of 17 February 2010) (2 )Year to date - 28 August 2009 to 31 January 2010. 
		
	
	In 2008/09 and 2009/10 some applicants were not recorded against any particular local authority or region but were included in the total take-up figure for England. In consequence, LA and regional data may be underestimated.
	
		
			  E2E 
			   Number of young people 
			 2003-04 1,694 
			 2004-05 1,712 
			 2005-06 1,570 
			 2006-07 1,518 
			 2007-08 1,587 
			 2008-09 1,762 
			 2009-10 (1)906 
			 (1 )Year to date for 2009/10 (up-to-date as of 17 February 2010)

Educational Maintenance Allowance: City of York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many education maintenance allowances have been paid to young people from the City of York in each year since 2004-05.

Iain Wright: This information is held by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). I have asked the LSC's chief executive, Geoff Russell, to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 22 March 2010:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question 322120 that asked:
	How many education maintenance allowances have been paid to young people from City of York in each year since 2004-05.
	EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year. EMA take-up for York Local Authority area during each academic year since inception is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004/05 590 
			 2005/06 1,178 
			 2006/07 1,327 
			 2007/08 1,392 
			 2008/09 1,409 
			 2009/10 (to end January 2010) 1,490 
		
	
	In comparing across years, it is important to understand that national roll-out was phased over several years. In the first year EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas. In 2005/06 EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. From 2006/07 EMA was available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally.
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 is available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

Home Education

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms are in place to ensure home-schooled children have  (a) information about and  (b) access to examination centres.

Iain Wright: The Report to the Secretary of State on the Review of Elective Home Education in England (the Badman Report) recommended that local authorities should support home-educated children and young people in finding appropriate examination centres, and provide entries free to all home-educated candidates who have demonstrated sufficiently their preparedness, for all DCSF funded qualifications. The Government have accepted this recommendation, and the Department's statutory guidance to local authorities on registration and monitoring will set out the steps they should take to work with schools and FE colleges to identify suitable examination and assessment centres for home-educated children. A draft of this guidance will be issued for consultation later this year.
	The Government also welcome the work of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) and the Association of Colleges (AoC), who are considering how they can encourage and support schools and further education colleges to provide a better service to home educators and other private candidates. QCDA recently published a leaflet, Accepting Private Candidates, to provide examination centres with practical advice, and to alleviate any unjustified concerns they might have.

Music: Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage participation in specialist instrumental or vocal tuition amongst  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in maintained schools.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 28 January 2010
	The standards fund music grant to local authorities has, since 2006-07, included a formula-based allocation for children to be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and/or receive specialist vocal tuition at key stage 2. The allocation of an extra £23 million a year since 2007-08, along with our strong guidance to local authorities to focus efforts on reaching 100 per cent. of the key stage 2 population, has had a significant impact on widening access to instrumental and vocal tuition. In addition, Sing Up, the national singing programme, has received £10 million a year from 2007 to provide resources and professional development for teachers to lead singing in primary schools. While support has focused on widening access to instrumental and vocal tuition for primary school pupils, Tune In-Year of Music was launched last September and this initiative is promoting musical activities across the country for 0 to 19-year-olds.

Playgrounds

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in the construction of the  (a) 3,500 outdoor play areas and  (b) 300 staffed adventure playgrounds referred to in the 2007 Children's Plan.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 24 February 2010
	Following the commitments made in the Children's Plan in 2007 and the national Play Strategy in 2008, every top-tier local authority in England has been receiving funding through the play capital investment programme since April 2009.
	Of the 152 top-tier local authorities, 30 are play pathfinder authorities and the remaining 122 local authorities are all play builder authorities. On average every play pathfinder authority receives around £2 million capital funding and £500,000 revenue funding over the current spending period 2008-09 to 2010-11. They will use this funding to deliver a minimum of 28 play areas plus a staffed adventure playground. The play builder authorities receive around £1 million capital and £45,000 revenue funding over the same spending period and will deliver a minimum of 22 play areas. The play areas that are delivered can be either completely new areas or existing areas which are significantly refurbished.
	Decisions on where the allocated capital funding is spent within local authority boundaries are taken locally, based on grant requirements which state that: improved play spaces must be provided where they are most needed, and as a result of a robust consultation process involving local children and young people, families and wider communities.
	The number of outdoor public play areas delivered by local authorities since the programme began in April 2008 is 1,152 and plans are well under way to ensure that the target of 3,500 play areas completed by the end of March 2011 is achieved. Of the 30 staffed adventure playgrounds, 20 are due to be delivered by the end of March 2010 with local authorities managing the impact of the recent extreme weather. The remaining 10 adventure playgrounds will be delivered by the end of March 2011.

Schools: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in Preston deemed to be failing have since reached a satisfactory standard since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 19 January 2010:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	Prior to September 2005 inspections were carried out under the school inspection frameworks commonly known as Section 10. Since September 2005, inspections have been carried out under the school inspection frameworks commonly known as Section 5.
	Under the current and previous inspection frameworks, Ofsted inspections do not use the term 'failing'. Instead, if inspectors judge that a school's overall effectiveness is inadequate or very poor, the school will be placed into a category of concern. Under Section 10 these categories were called 'serious weaknesses' and 'special measures'. Under Section 5 the categories are called 'notice to improve' and 'special measures'. This response takes into account any school in the parliamentary constituency of Preston which has been placed into any category of concern since September 1997.
	Of all the inspections carried out by Ofsted in maintained schools in Preston between September 1997 and August 2009, sixteen have resulted in the school being placed in a category of concern. One school has been placed into a category of concern on two separate occasions and so appears twice in the figures. Three of the fifteen schools affected closed before being removed from the category of concern. The remaining twelve have all been removed from any category following a reinspection. As at the end of August 2009, no school in Preston was in a category of concern. Table A below provides a list of the individual schools.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			  URN  School name  Phase  Inspection framework  Category of concern  Date removed from the category 
			 119229 Eldon Primary School Primary Section 10 Special measures 5 February 2001 
			 119603 Preston St. Matthew's Church of England Primary School Primary Section 10 Special measures 4 June 2001 
			 119430 St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Preston Primary Section 10 Serious weakness 10 September 2001 
			 119700 St. Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Preston Primary Section 10 Serious weakness 5 November 2001 
			 119804 The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School Primary Section 10 Serious weakness 20/05/2002 
			 119354 Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School Primary Section 10 Special measures 9 December 2002 
			 119709 City of Preston High School Secondary Section 10 Serious weakness 12 May 2003 
			 119333 Fishwick Primary School Primary Section 10 Special measures 30 June 2003 
			 119866 Moorbrook School Special Section 5 Notice to improve 29 February 2008 
			 119743 Walton le Dale Arts College and High School Secondary Section 5 Notice to improve 20 May 2008 
			 119709 City of Preston High School Secondary Section 5 Special measures 23 April 2009 
			 119237 The Roebuck School Primary Section 5 Notice to improve 24 June 2009 
			 119608 St. Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School, Preston Primary Section 5 Notice to improve 7 July 2009 
			 119443 St. Wilfrid's RC Primary School Primary Section 10 Special measures Closed 
			 119365 Bamber Bridge St. Saviour's Church of England Primary School Primary Section 10 Serious weakness Closed 
			 119105 Preston Tutorial Centre PRU Section 10 Special measures Closed

Sixth Form Education: Complaints

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to whom a complaint from  (a) a student and  (b) an apprentice aged between 16 and 19 years and attending a (i) further education college and (ii) sixth form college will be referred if the student is dissatisfied with that college's response to their complaint after 1 April 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The current policy for complaints from a student or an apprentice aged between 16 and 19 years and attending a further education college or a sixth-form college is that they can complain to the relevant regional office of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which funds the further education college or sixth-form college in question. The LSC would only consider such complaints once the college's own internal complaints procedure has been fully exhausted.
	From 1 April 2010, complaints from learners aged 16-19 in a further education college will be dealt with by the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency. Complaints about sixth-form colleges will be dealt with by the relevant local authority and subsequently directed to the local government ombudsman if the complainant continues to remain dissatisfied. All complaints from apprentices will be directed to the Skills Funding Agency after exhausting the provider mechanisms. We will keep this policy under review.

Social Services: Doncaster

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the report entitled Organisation and Management Review of Duty and Assessment and Urban CSSW Teams written by Bron Sanders for Doncaster metropolitan borough council in March 2007 was taken into account in the preparation of the full serious case review into the death of Child AO6 in Doncaster which was published in executive summary in July 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 8 February 2010
	 The preparation and content of serious case reviews are the responsibility of the appropriate Local Safeguarding Children Board, in accordance with statutory guidance contained in the Government publication Working Together To Safeguard Children. In the case mentioned, it would have been for Doncaster Safeguarding Children Board to decide what reports to take into account when undertaking the serious case review.

Teachers: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many full-time teaching positions in maintained schools in Leeds local authority area are  (a) vacant and  (b) filled by part-time or temporary staff.

Vernon Coaker: In January 2009, the latest information available, there were 13 advertised vacant posts for full-time teachers in local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Leeds local authority that were either uncovered or filled by a teacher on a contract of less than one term. In addition there were a further 65 teaching posts available to permanent full-time teachers that were being filled by teachers with a contract of more than one term but less than one year. These vacancies include posts where a permanent teacher has been appointed but was not in post and exclude posts where the incumbent is on sick, maternity or other paid leave.
	Information on the number of full-time posts that are covered by part-time teachers is not collected centrally.
	This information is from the Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, (618g). Provisional national level vacancy information for 2010 is due to be published on 26 May.

Teachers: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers in maintained schools in Leeds local authority area have left their position for reasons other than retirement in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of teachers who have left service in the last five years is not available at local authority level because the data source is not complete enough to provide a reliable estimate.

TRANSPORT

A13: Litter

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) he has not replied to a letter from Thurrock borough council on contract compliance in respect of the Connect Plus Group's obligation to collect rubbish and litter from, and to clean, the A13 highway in Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Highways Agency received a letter regarding this matter on 2 February from Thurrock borough council and it was copied to the Secretary of State for Transport. An email response was sent by the Highways Agency on 4 February 2010. Subsequently, a senior representative of the Highways Agency met with the council's Cabinet Member for Environmental Services to resolve the issues concerning litter on the A13 in Thurrock.
	I am not aware of any other correspondence from Thurrock borough council regarding this matter.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 3 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1192W, on automatic number plate recognition, whether a privacy impact assessment was undertaken in relation to the use of automatic number plate recognition for civil parking and civil traffic enforcement.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 23 March 2010,  Official Report, column 179W.

British Transport Police: Sweet Concepts

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2010,  Official Report, column 156W, on Central Office of Information: marketing, what promotional products were purchased from Sweet Concepts Ltd. on behalf of British Transport Police; and at what cost.

Chris Mole: I understand that the products concerned were predominantly promotional bags of sweets used by the British Transport Police at community engagement and rail safety events. The total cost over the three year period 2006-07 to 2008-09 was £9,630 plus VAT.

Bus Services

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the  (a) number of and  (b) percentage change in bus usage in (i) York and (ii) England in the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The following table shows the number of bus journeys in England over the last five years and the annual percentage increases.
	
		
			  Bus passe nger journeys for England, 2004-05 to 2008- 09 
			   Old basis (million)  New basis (million)  Percentage change on previous year 
			 2004-05 4,299 - +1.6 
			 2005-06 4,360 - +1.4 
			 2006-07 4,648 - +6.6 
			 2007-08(1) 4,715 4,628 +1.4 
			 2008-09 - 4,701 +1.6 
			 (1) There is a break in the time series of estimated passenger journeys in 2007-08 due to a change in the estimation methodology. Figures are shown on both the old and new basis for that year. The next planned release of Bus and Light Rail Statistics, due on 17 June 2010 will include figures on the 'new basis' for years prior to 2007-08.  Source: PSV Survey of Bus and Coach Operators. 
		
	
	Bus patronage data for the city of York unitary authority cannot be made available from the same source as they are commercially confidential.
	Information at a local authority level is, however, available from the National Indicator Set. These data are not consistent with the DFT's published patronage estimates above and have not gone through the same reconciliation and consistency checks.
	The following table shows National Indicator 177 (Local bus and light rail passenger journeys originating in the authority area) figures for the city of York.
	
		
			  Bus passenger journeys for City of York, 2004-05 to 2008-09 
			   NI 177 (thousand)  Percentage change on previous year 
			 2004-05 14,300 - 
			 2005-06 14,494 +1.4 
			 2006-07 15,144 +4.5 
			 2007-08 14,853 -1.9 
			 2008-09 15,334 +3.2 
			  Source: LA National Indicator 177

Bus Services: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for concessionary bus travel in Birmingham since the inception of that scheme.

Sadiq Khan: The administration of the concessionary travel scheme in Birmingham is carried out by Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive. The Government provide funding for concessionary travel in Birmingham through two channels: formula grant to Birmingham city council and special grant to West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA).
	Before 1 April 2008, funding for the statutory minimum bus concession was provided exclusively through the formula grant system. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant and as such it is not possible to identify how much formula grant has been allocated to local authorities for any particular service, such as concessionary travel for older and disabled people.
	From April 2008, the Department for Transport has provided additional special grant funding to local authorities to cover the extra costs of providing England-wide travel, of which WMITA received £12,352,518 in 2008-09 and £12,643,851 in 2009-10. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) continues to provide the bulk of concessionary travel funding to local authorities through formula grant.
	The Department for Transport also provided WMITA with £2,185,500 in 2007-08 for the cost of producing and issuing the new England-wide bus passes to all those eligible.

Coastal Erosion

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  how much he  (a) has given in the last three financial years and  (b) plans to give in the next three financial years to local authorities in (i) Essex and (ii) England to restore cliff slippages that threaten (A) rail and (B) road links; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what legislative authority he has to fund local authorities to restore cliff slippages that threaten  (a) rail and  (b) road links; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent  (a) meetings he has had with and  (b) representations he has received from Southend borough council on cliff slippages that threaten (i) rail and (ii) road links; what the (A) location and (B) duration was of each meeting; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what research has been  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated by his Department on cliff slippages that threaten (i) rail and (ii) road links in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport provided £1 million funding to Southend borough council in January 2008 for highway repairs to prevent damage occurring to rail and road links from a cliff slippage. The Department for Transport met with officials from the authority and their consultant prior to the submission of a business case by the authority seeking this funding. No record was made of the meeting which took place in Southend.
	The funding for this highway maintenance scheme will be provided under Section 31 of Local Government Act 2003.
	The Department for Transport has not conducted any specific research on cliff slippages that threaten rail and road links. The Highways Agency continues to monitor and provide support on research conducted on chalk cliff stability. Current research is of a localised nature-e.g. cliff monitoring initiatives being carried out in the Brighton and Hove District. The Highways Agency has identified that there may be future collaboration opportunities for research in this field available through the INTERREG programme (interested parties include Brighton and Hove City council, Brighton University, Leeds University and Chalk Rock Ltd).
	Government resilience policy for events which result from incidents of instability are a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). Southend borough council have not discussed cliff stabilisation issues with CLG recently.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Chris Mole: Within the Department for Transport subsidised gym facilities for staff are only provided at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA provides the accommodation and covers the overheads (such as electricity), which then allows the agency to keep the cost of membership to a minimum.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has constructed smoking shelters at its London premises for the use of its staff since May 2008.

Chris Mole: No smoking shelters have been built in the Department's London headquarter premises since May 2008.

Departmental Contracts

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will issue guidance on his Department's policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not have a specific policy relating to offshore contracts. However, the Department conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Government's value for money policies and principles in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework, including the principles of non-discrimination, the EU procurement directives and the UK's international obligations. The Department follows these policy principles in respect of tender evaluations.
	The ability to deliver the contract is always a key consideration in the tender evaluation. Any tender proposal involving the offshore relocation of services would be given the appropriate level of consideration in the context of security and any other matter relevant to the requirement.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what  (a) voltage optimisers and  (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department.

Chris Mole: The information requested is not centrally recorded and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.

Chris Mole: Press office activities across the Department are not exclusively carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose. Press officer function pay costs have been estimated for 2008-09 in the following table.
	
		
			  Press officer activities 2008-09  Payroll cost (£000) 
			 DFT Central 823 
			 Driving Standards Agency 123 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 181 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 0 
			 Highways Agency 540 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 156 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 47 
		
	
	The Department for Transport was created in May 2002. Records of costs for 1996-97 are not readily available owing to departmental and agency re-organisations and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not spent any money on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years apart from the Government Car Despatch Agency who spent £818 in 2006-07 on desk planners.

Departmental Written Questions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997 could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The information used by the Department in responding to these questions was readily available on the Department's or the local authorities' websites or from the Government offices for the regions. The risk of incurring disproportionate cost did not therefore arise.

East Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Roger Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what penalty payments  (a) NXEC and  (b) National Express made to his Department following the termination of their tenure of the East Coast Main Line franchise.

Chris Mole: As a result of the termination of the NXEC franchise, the Department for Transport called both the performance and the season ticket bonds maintained by the company. These were valued at £31.4 million and £4.8 million respectively.
	Additionally, before the termination and in accordance with their franchise agreement, National Express was required to provide £40 million of financial support to NXEC to maintain the financial ratios specified in NXEC's franchise agreement. This represents a non-refundable cost to National Express.

East London Line

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what representations his Department has received from  (a) the Mayor of London and  (b) Lewisham council's Executive Mayor on funding a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has received a number of representations from Transport for London, the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Lewisham in relation to the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road. Transport for London and Lewisham have also submitted a business case in relation to the new station.
	Officials at the Department continue to discuss this business case with officials from Transport for London and Lewisham council.

East London Line

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has informed  (a) Transport for London and  (b) Lewisham council that it will contribute to the funding of a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line.

Sadiq Khan: The business case for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road was submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council late last year. The Department for Transport had a number of concerns with the business case provided and officials have been discussing these issues with both parties.

East London Line

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the demand projections made by Transport for London for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line.

Sadiq Khan: The business case and the demand projections for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road were provided by Transport for London. Some concerns have been noted with regard to the projected demand levels at the station when compared with other neighbouring stations.
	The specific concern was that projected demand levels at the station were similar to or higher than other stations in established residential and shopping locations with significantly higher levels of train service, such as New Cross Gate and Peckham Rye.

East London Line

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what process his Department is undertaking to evaluate the case for a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport is assessing the business case submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council to ensure that it is robust; that it is based on realistic future population and employment forecasts; and that it accords with the appraisal criteria used for all transport schemes that the Department is asked to fund. It is important that this process is carried out to ensure that taxpayers' money is being used effectively and that the proposed benefits will be realised.
	The appraisal criteria, Webtag, are available on the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/index.php

First Capital Connect

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what meetings he has had with representatives of First Capital Connect in each of the last six months; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each such meeting.

Chris Mole: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 January 2010,  Official Report, column 877W. In addition, a meeting was held on 2 February 2010 between the Secretary of State, the Chief Executive of First Group, the Managing Director of First UK Rail and the Managing Director of First Capital Connect. The minutes of the meetings on 12 November 2009 and 2 February 2010 have been placed in the Library of the House.

First Capital Connect

Robert Wareing: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the operation of First Capital Connect; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of withdrawing its franchise and taking its operations into public ownership.

Chris Mole: A number of representations have been received regarding the operation of First Capital Connect from Members of Parliament and passengers.
	Since 18 January 2010, when First Capital Connect's full timetable was reinstated, we have continued to monitor performance closely and the indication is that First Capital Connect is returning to pre-disruption levels of service.
	To date, no Event of Default, as set out in the Franchise Agreement, has occurred.

Galileo

Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate has been made of the number of satellites which can be launched and maintained within the £3.4 billion funding ceiling for the Galileo project.

Paul Clark: The €3.4 billion budget is the cost for full operational capability (FOC) of the Galileo system which is to build all necessary space and ground-based infrastructures, including the launch of 30 satellites. The European Commission let a contract for 14 satellites in January this year. The procurement process is still ongoing so the final contract prices are not yet known.
	Costs related to the maintenance of the Galileo system fall to the next European Financial Perspective starting in 2014. The European Commission will come forward later this year with a mid-term review of the programme which will make proposals for the operation and maintenance of the system.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the total  (a) area and  (b) population was within the (i) 57, (ii) 60, (iii) 63, (iv) 66, (v) 69 and (vi) 72 dBA noise contours at Heathrow Airport in each year from 2000 to 2009.

Paul Clark: The following statistics have been extracted from the annual aircraft noise contour reports covering Heathrow airport, which are available on the Department's website. They relate to the actual modal split contours. Standard contours-based on a 20-year average of east/west splits-are also available in the reports.
	
		
			  Leq level dBA  Area sq km  Population 
			  2000   
			 57 135.6 275,200 
			 60 78.7 138,700 
			 63 48.2 71,900 
			 66 30.9 29,200 
			 69 19.0 11,500 
			 72 10.2 3,100 
			
			  2001   
			 57 117.4 240,400 
			 60 68.1 108,000 
			 63 41.2 54,900 
			 66 25.5 21,500 
			 69 14.1 6,800 
			 72 7.1 1,500 
			
			  2002   
			 57 126.9 258,300 
			 60 71.9 122,600 
			 63 43.8 64,200 
			 66 28.7 29,300 
			 69 16.4 8,600 
			 72 8.4 2,900 
			
			  2003   
			 57 126.9 263,700 
			 60 71.1 128,600 
			 63 43.8 64,600 
			 66 28.1 28,800 
			 69 15.6 8,000 
			 72 8.3 2,500 
			
			  2004   
			 57 117.4 239,700 
			 60 66.7 105,300 
			 63 40.3 55,900 
			 66 24.4 21,000 
			 69 13.3 5,700 
			 72 6.5 1,500 
			
			  2005   
			 57 117.2 251,700 
			 60 64.4 110,500 
			 63 39.1 51,800 
			 66 23.7 16,400 
			 69 12.4 3,900 
			 72 6.5 800 
			
			  2006   
			 57 117.4 258,000 
			 60 63.9 110,200 
			 63 38.4 51,200 
			 66 23.3 15,900 
			 69 11.9 3,600 
			 72 6.4 700 
			
			  2007   
			 57 119.6 251,900 
			 60 65.3 100,400 
			 63 37.6 45,100 
			 66 23.1 16,200 
			 69 12.2 3,700 
			 72 6.4 700 
			
			  2008( 1)   
			 57 123.1 268,450 
			 60 66.2 103,650 
			 63 37.7 47,100 
			 66 22.8 15,950 
			 69 11.8 3,900 
			 72 6.1 650 
			 (1) Contour reports for 2000-07 contain population figures rounded to nearest 100. In 2008 population figures were provided to nearest 50. 
		
	
	Figures for 2009 will be published as soon as they are available.

Hotels

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many and what proportion of all hotel bookings made by his Department were made through the Expotel facility in the last year for which figures available.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport (central) made 2,328 bookings for overnight accommodation through Expotel in 2008-09, the Highways Agency made 2,937 and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency made 145. In each case bookings made by other means are not recorded centrally so the information defining Expotel bookings as a proportion of the total could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In the same period the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) made 187 bookings through Expotel, amounting to 0.9 per cent. of the DSA total, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) made 4,998 such bookings representing 94.08 per cent. of the DVLA total.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.

Kemble-Swindon Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of passengers on and  (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon in each of the last five years.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of  (a) the number of passengers on and  (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon in each of the last five years.
	The franchised train operator running services between Cheltenham and Swindon is First Great Western. Therefore, the hon. Member should contact First Great Western's Managing Director at the following address for a response to his question:
	Mr. Mark Hopwood
	Managing Director
	First Great Western
	Milford House
	1 Milford Street
	Swindon
	SN11HL

Kemble-Swindon Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department has had with  (a) First Great Western,  (b) the South West Regional Development Agency and  (c) the European Commission on the provision of additional funding for the redoubling of the Swindon to Kemble line.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is in regular dialogue with First Great Western, Network Rail and local stakeholders, including the South West Regional Development Agency, on the funding and development of the Swindon to Kemble re-doubling project. The European Commission will consider the case for grant funding alongside other projects from across the Community.

Lorry Drivers: Licensing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 15 March 2010,  Official Report, column 621W, on the Traffic Commissioners, how many heavy goods licences have been amended or revoked following representations from local authorities in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: From April 2009 to date the traffic commissioners have reviewed six goods vehicle operator's licences under section 30 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 as a result of complaints received from local authorities and/or local residents. Of these, four resulted in licences being continued with amendments and two were allowed to continue without change.

Network Rail

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the number of unfilled vacancies in Network Rail's maintenance function;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Network Rail on adjustment of its figures for redundancies in the control period  (a) 2009 to 2014 and  (b) 2014 to 2019;
	(3)  whether Network Rail has informed him of any proposed redundancies in addition to those already announced for the control period  (a) 2009 to 2014 and  (b) 2014 to 2019.

Chris Mole: Staffing is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail is required by the independent Office of Rail Regulation to deliver substantial efficiency savings and improvements for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the network over the next five years.
	On 3 March the Office of Rail Regulation announced the outcome of its review of Network Rail's proposals for the restructuring of its maintenance function, and its support for Network Rail's goal of introducing greater efficiency into its maintenance practices in ways that sustain and improve safety. Network Rail has discussed its proposals in the course of its routine meetings with Ministers.
	On 25 March the Office of Rail Regulation made clear that Network Rail's proposed new structure and revised key standards support their joint aims of safer and more efficient maintenance.

Official Cars: Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost was of providing Ministerial cars in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial statements and are available in the Libraries of the House.

Opposition

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has undertaken costings of the policies of the  (a) Conservative Party and  (b) Liberal Democrat Party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not undertaken costing of the policies of the  (a) Conservative party and  (b) Liberal Democrat party at the request of Ministers or special advisers in the last 36 months.

Public Transport: West Midlands

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for the purpose of maintaining and extending  (a) roads,  (b) railway services,  (c) bus services,  (d) cycle lanes and  (e) other transport services in (i) Birmingham and (ii) the West Midlands in each year since 1997.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport publishes estimates of its total expenditure on services by region and country, including the west midlands, in its annual report. These figures rest on a number of assumptions, for example about how total expenditure on strategic highways and rail should be attributed to different regions.
	These figures exclude grant to local authorities, as this information is collated separately by CLG, DCSF, DWP and devolved Administrations. Details of the Department's funding for local authorities in the west midlands, which in general is not ring-fenced to particular transport services, may be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/fundingstreams/
	The annual report does not provide specific figures for Birmingham and an estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Railways: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  what the  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure will be on the extension to the High Speed 2 route to Leeds over the period of construction;
	(2)  what the estimated total  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure will be on the High Speed 2 route from (i) London to Birmingham and (ii) London to Manchester over the period of construction;
	(3)  what estimated  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure will be incurred for the 335 mile Y network proposed in the High Speed Rail Command Paper over the period of construction.

Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd estimate that the capital cost of construction of the recommended high speed rail line from London to the West Midlands is between £15.8 billion and £17.4 billion. The estimated capital cost of construction for new lines from the West Midlands to the North West, and to Yorkshire via the East Midlands, is £5.4-5.8 billion (depending on routeing at Manchester) and £5.8 billion, respectively. All figures are in 2009 prices, include risk and optimum bias, and exclude rolling stock costs.
	Unlike the London to the West Midlands cost estimate, those for the legs north of the West Midlands are not based on engineered routes. HS2 Ltd has been asked to carry out similar detailed planning work on route options from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds, to be completed in summer 2011, with a view to consulting the public early in 2012.
	Estimates of revenue expenditure during construction would be developed at a later stage were the Government to decide to proceed following public consultation.

Railways: Construction

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons, of the three possible routes for High Speed 2 proposed through the Chilterns, he decided on the route through Chesham and Amersham constituency; on what evidential basis he made that decision; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Government will not take a decision on the route of any high speed line from London to the West Midlands until public consultation has taken place. The route recommended by HS2 Ltd., which follows the A413 corridor and which the Government agree should form the basis of consultation, was considered to be the preferred route option because it offers cost and journey time advantages and because its local and environmental impacts are on balance lower than those of the two other routes short-listed by HS2 Ltd.
	In particular, its environmental impacts are reduced by following existing transport corridors for more than half the distance travelled at surface level through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. HS2 Ltd. considered a number of further routes which it did not shortlist; the Government agreed that these were significantly inferior.
	Further detail is set out in the Command Paper and supporting documents which were published on 11 March 2010.

Railways: Construction

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what invitations the Secretary of State has received from hon. Members to speak in their constituencies on High Speed 2 since 1 March 2010; and  (a) when and  (b) in what form each such invitation was received.

Chris Mole: The Secretary of State has received a number of requests, both verbal and written, from a number of sources, including hon. Members.

Railways: Construction

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he made of the merits of choosing  (a) the M1,  (b) the M40 and  (c) another existing transport corridor as the preferred route for a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham;
	(2)  what assessment he made of the merits of choosing a route alongside existing railway lines as the preferred route for the high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

Chris Mole: HS2 Ltd. drew up and assessed a large number of potential route options, including routes following several different existing motorway and mainline transport corridors. The process of route selection which the company undertook is set out at section 3.5 of its report to the Government, found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/hs2report/
	This includes detailed explanation of the sifting out of potential options, including the M1 and M40 corridors. The Government agree with HS2 Ltd.'s assessment of route options.

Railways: Construction

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects to receive the results of the further work he has asked HS2 Ltd to carry out on the proposed high-speed rail route alignment near Stoneleigh, Warwickshire; and in respect of which sections of that route the further work is being undertaken.

Chris Mole: As set out in the Secretary of State's letter dated 18 March to HS2 Ltd., a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk
	HS2 Ltd. will report to the Government by the end of August, in preparation for the formal public consultation in the autumn.

Railways: South East

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of the completion of the works in the South East required as a consequence of the improvement notice service on Network Rail.

Chris Mole: The Office of Rail Regulation served an improvement notice on Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd. on 18 March requiring the company to comply with its own standards for inspecting structures to ensure safety. Network Rail is already fully funded to meet the requirements of health and safety law.

Rapid Transit Systems: Yorkshire and the Humber

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date he expects the tram-train pilot project proposed between Sheffield and Rotherham to end; and if he will take steps to reduce the proposed duration of the pilot project.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport, Northern Rail, Network Rail and South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority are working closely as industry partners to ensure the success of the project and following the proposed start of services from 2012 will review operations every six months.
	There is no plan to reduce the duration of the pilot. Indeed it is hoped that it will be a success and a permanently useful transport link.

Taxis: Guide Dogs

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy to collect, through his Department's surveys of licensing authorities, data on the number of taxi and private hire drivers with exemptions from statutory duties to carry guide and other assistance dogs.

Sadiq Khan: These data are already collected from local authorities in our biennial local authority taxi survey. Figures have not been included in any publication but are available on request.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) ambulances,  (b) rapid response vehicles and  (c) air ambulances there were in each London borough in each year since 2000;
	(2)  whether he has made an estimate of the lowest number of  (a) ambulances,  (b) rapid response vehicles and  (c) air ambulances available for emergency response in each London borough on average on a single day in each year since 2000.

Mike O'Brien: This information is not held centrally. The purchasing of ambulance vehicles is a matter for national health service ambulance trusts to manage in order to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand. The number of available emergency response vehicles is a matter for national health service ambulance trusts to manage in order to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand.

Ambulance Services: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average time taken for an ambulance to reach a category A emergency was in each London borough in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how ambulance services in each London borough were set  (a) category A eight,  (b) category A 19 and  (c) category B 19 minute response targets in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many times an ambulance service  (a) did not meet the eight minute response target and  (b) took over 15 minutes to respond to a category A emergency in each London borough in each year since 2000;
	(4)  what the average response time was for  (a) air ambulances,  (b) road ambulances and  (c) rapid response vehicles in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not collect information on average response times to emergency calls by national health service ambulance trusts.
	The data that the Department does collect on ambulance response times are published on an annual basis in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England. These documents have already been placed in the Library and are available on the Information Centre for health and social care website:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs
	All ambulance trusts are required to meet the same national response time standards. Category A calls (those presenting conditions that may be immediately life threatening) should be responded to within eight minutes in 75 per cent. of cases and category B calls (those conditions that are serious but not immediately life threatening) should be responded to within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases.
	The Department only collects national data at ambulance trust level, with strategic health authorities as the local headquarters of the NHS, and primary care trusts as commissioners, having the responsibility for ensuring that national response time standards are delivered and maintained by trusts. This may mean that trusts locally will look at performance data below ambulance trust level, but whether and how the NHS does this is for each region to decide and manage locally.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made of the number of patients in  (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency,  (b) the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust area,  (c) the Peterborough Primary Care Trust area and  (d) England who were attended to within (i) 10, (ii) 30, (iii) 60 and (iv) 120 minutes of requesting an ambulance in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not collect response time data of ambulance services in the format requested, and has therefore not made an estimate of the number of patients who were attended within 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes of requesting an ambulance.
	The data that the Department does collect on ambulance response time are in accordance with the national response time targets and these are published on an annual basis in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England. These documents have already been placed in the Library and on the Information for health and social care website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/ambulance

Arthritis: Drugs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2010,  Official Report, column 966W, on arthritis: drugs, to which areas of Government policy his letter to the Prime Minister related.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 March 2010,  Official Report, column 966W.

Asthma: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each age group  (a) with,  (b) diagnosed with,  (c) admitted to hospital as a result of,  (d) treated by a GP as a result of and  (e) who died as a result of asthma in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
	Figures are available for the number of people registered with asthma in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), introduced as part of the new General Medical Services contract on 1 April 2004. QOF data are available from 2004-05 and information has been provided broken down by primary care trust (PCT) of responsibility. The QOF disease register reporting does not collect information on ages, so the data is not split by age group.
	We have provided a count of finished admission episodes where the primary diagnosis was asthma by age group and by PCT of residence in London for the years 2000-01 to 2008-09.
	Information on the number of people treated by a general practitioner as a result of asthma, is not collected centrally.
	Information is provided from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the number of deaths where asthma was the underlying cause of death for persons in each age group in each London borough, for the years 2000-08 (the latest year available) combined. The number of deaths at this level of detail is extremely small. Consequently, figures for individual years have not been provided, in line with ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics.
	The information available has been placed in the Library.

Asthma: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the  (a) number of units of medication prescribed to treat asthma-related conditions and  (b) bed days were occupied as a result of asthma in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Ann Keen: Information is not collected in the format requested. The following tables show the number of items prescribed for asthma-related conditions in London primary care trusts (PCTs) from 2006 to 2009 and the number of finished consultant episode bed days where the primary diagnosis was asthma, given by PCT of residence in London for the years 2000-01 to 2008-09.
	
		
			  Items prescribed for asthma-related conditions in London 2006-09 
			   Items 
			  PCT  2006  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Barking and Dagenham 127,193 130,402 134,237 102,722 
			 Barnet 177,622 179,357 181,923 136,527 
			 Bexley Care Trust 136,886 140,623 139,635 105,148 
			 Brent Teaching 150,734 155,158 159,531 119,541 
			 Bromley 174,199 174,441 176,350 131,643 
			 Camden 97,679 96,328 99,515 74,481 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 114,129 115,961 115,826 86,550 
			 Croydon 187,823 191,036 196,150 146,878 
			 Ealing 181,177 184,038 184,875 140,683 
			 Enfield 159,942 160,070 165,812 125,442 
			 Greenwich Teaching 165,457 163,219 165,706 125,681 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 84,273 87,006 86,142 65,544 
			 Haringey Teaching 134,218 137,599 137,925 104,639 
			 Harrow 139,146 143,961 147,964 110,496 
			 Havering 156,823 168,798 178,363 136,048 
			 Hillingdon 154,110 155,412 158,362 118,883 
			 Hounslow 131,948 137,549 138,866 105,842 
			 Islington 111,872 114,330 118,999 89,951 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 65,167 67,858 67,850 51,952 
			 Kingston 93,560 94,220 95,133 70,913 
			 Lambeth 144,873 143,794 148,327 110,021 
			 Lewisham 160,751 162,154 162,727 122,167 
			 Newham 174,827 178,654 187,437 145,500 
			 Redbridge 130,595 133,845 137,194 105,240 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 90,861 92,054 95,092 72,145 
			 Southwark 138,791 141,913 143,623 107,918 
			 Sutton and Merton 212,941 221,283 230,477 172,680 
			 Tower Hamlets 126,113 126,929 128,528 97,768 
			 Waltham Forest 134,323 137,058 139,595 106,985 
			 Wandsworth Teaching 149,320 148,156 146,639 112,369 
			 Westminster 86,734 91,214 93,804 72,086 
			 Total 4,294,087 4,374,420 4,462,607 3,374,443 
			 (1 )January to September.  Notes:  1. The PACT system covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioners (GPs), nurses, pharmacists and others in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. For data at PCT level, prescriptions written by a prescriber located in a particular PCT but dispensed outside that PCT will be included in the PCT in which the prescriber is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included. Prescriptions written in hospitals/clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals, dental prescribing and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data. It is important to note this as some British National Formulary (BNF) sections have a high proportion of prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community. For example, BNF chapter 4, Central Nervous System has a fair proportion of items written in mental health clinics that are dispensed in the community-these prescriptions are not included in PACT data.  2. Data are held for 60 months and so at the moment the only complete years available are 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Complete data for 2009 cannot be released until after the publication of the associated National Statistic in April 2010 and so only data for January to September is presented here.  3. Prescriptions are written on a prescription form known as a FP10. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item.  4. The term asthma-related conditions has been taken to mean asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since they are treated with the same medications, namely those classified under sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the BNF.   Source:  Prescribing Analysis and CosT (PACT) system. 
		
	
	
		
			  Finished consultant episode bed days where the primary diagnosis was asthma by London PCT of residence from 2000-01 to 2008-09-Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  PCT of residence  PCT code  2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03  2001-02  2000-01 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 695 807 1,015 1,030 1,249 934 781 573 619 
			 Barnet PCT 5A9 910 656 1,364 1,278 1,230 1,687 1,339 926 1,406 
			 Bexley Care Trust TAK 725 694 698 695 927 953 - - - 
			 Bexley PCT 5AX - - - - - - 1,030 676 688 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 5K5 1,150 1,177 1,183 1,439 1,505 1,408 1,270 516 747 
			 Bromley PCT 5A7 599 756 1,027 1,375 1,251 1,118 1,295 579 1,102 
			 Camden PCT 5K7 587 670 800 672 987 1,077 1,377 879 856 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 5C3 949 937 1,134 1,898 1,331 1,375 1,452 1,120 1,139 
			 Croydon PCT 5K9 1,533 1,608 1,392 1,598 1,920 1,556 971 1,246 1,290 
			 Ealing PCT 5HX 2,021 1,810 2,002 1,890 2,064 2,714 1,687 1,661 1,790 
			 Enfield PCT 5C1 1,046 603 1,020 921 971 799 785 1,311 1,038 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 5A8 572 554 690 873 843 1,363 841 957 824 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 526 801 752 787 799 722 758 1,107 1,078 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 5C9 899 1,049 1,190 1,281 1,242 819 907 768 1,290 
			 Harrow PCT 5K6 718 674 628 729 685 682 704 555 636 
			 Havering PCT 5A4 475 549 563 768 824 992 856 773 678 
			 Hillingdon PCT 5AT 831 783 530 658 661 597 818 733 1,004 
			 Hounslow PCT 5HY 1,138 1,178 684 1,409 1,482 1,798 1,298 1,317 1,412 
			 Islington PCT 5K8 1,182 1,238 1,325 1,287 1,037 980 809 868 855 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5LA 305 389 438 612 346 372 504 483 802 
			 Kingston PCT 5A5 559 630 563 709 842 669 701 707 554 
			 Lambeth PCT 5LD 1,038 1,030 1,178 1,136 1,195 1,260 1,440 1,526 1,298 
			 Lewisham PCT 5LF 942 1,015 1,148 1,188 1,000 1,086 1,229 1,047 1,264 
			 Newham PCT 5C5 1,137 1,144 1,302 1,037 1,212 1,244 1,470 1,471 1,389 
			 Redbridge PCT 5NA 1,140 1,430 1,399 1,558 1,429 1,383 - - - 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 5C7 - - - - - - 616 381 358 
			 Redbridge PCT 5C8 - - - - - - 622 617 681 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 601 504 456 478 630 800 737 418 446 
			 Southwark PCT 5LE 877 800 982 1,052 1,211 1,658 1,198 1,288 1,225 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 1,210 1,302 1,062 995 1,336 1,271 1,076 1,465 1,576 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 816 1,048 806 1,304 1,388 1,173 1,058 1,401 1,073 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT 5C6 - - - - - - 608 458 614 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 5NC 871 834 900 1,076 1,069 1,109 - - - 
			 Wandsworth PCT 5LG 962 939 809 1,076 1,116 1,130 1,230 1,063 1,264 
			 Westminster PCT 5LC 677 619 722 814 963 648 809 1,153 1,044 
			  Notes:  1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.  2. Episode duration/bed days: episode duration is calculated as the difference in days between the episode start date and the episode end date, where both are given. Episode duration is based on FCEs and applies only to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated).  3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.  4. PCT Changes: In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health authorities (SHA) and PCTs in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result, data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. In particular, it is noted that there was a change in the number of PCTs that constituted the London boroughs around 2003-04: Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT became Waltham Forest PCT; Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT and Redbridge PCT became Redbridge PCT; and Bexley PCT became Bexley Care Trust.  5. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  6. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Asthma: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made a recent estimate of the cost per bed day of treating a patient with asthma in each London borough.

Ann Keen: The Department has made no such estimate.

Autism: Drugs

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to ensure that adults with autism or special needs in care homes are asked whether they wish their next of kin to be informed when a course of powerful drugs is prescribed for them.

Phil Hope: There are no procedures that apply uniquely to adults with autism or special needs.
	Adults with autism or special needs should be assessed to determine whether they have the capacity to consent to treatment. Where a person has been assessed as having the capacity to consent to treatment, it is up to the patient to decide whether they wish to inform any family members or discuss the treatment with family members. It would be inappropriate for staff at a care home or for health professionals to discuss such matters with the family, as this would be a breach of confidentiality.
	If a person does not have the capacity to understand and to decide whether to consent or not, then health professionals have to take a Best Interests decision. The process is described in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Code of Practice, and requires professionals to follow certain steps.
	The Mental Capacity Act 2005 places a duty on health professionals to consult other people close to a person who lacks capacity on decisions affecting the person. Under section 4(7) of the MCA, health professionals have a duty to take into account the views of anyone involved in caring for the person and anyone interested in their welfare (for example family carers, other close relatives.) as part of a Best Interests decision. Therefore, the family should be consulted where the treatment is being made under a Best Interests decision because the person lacks capacity.

Blood: Contamination

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2010,  Official Report, column 562W, on blood: contamination, what discussions he had with Lord Archer of Sandwell before publishing his estimate that the cost to the public purse of implementing the recommendations of Lord Archer's report on contaminated blood and blood products could be between £3 billion and £3.5 billion; and if he will provide a detailed breakdown of that figure.

Gillian Merron: The then Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson) and the then Minister of State (Dawn Primarolo) met Lord Archer on 11 March 2009 to discuss his report. There has been no discussion with Lord Archer of the cost of implementing his recommendations on financial relief to those affected by NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products.
	Our initial estimate of £3-3.5 billion was based on an understanding that individual payments made in Ireland to infected patients ranged between £500,000 and £1,000,000, and was derived by multiplying the average of those figures by the estimated number of infected claimants in the UK. It did not take account of payments to dependents of those infected.
	It is not possible to calculate an accurate figure for the cost of implementing Lord Archer's report because the Irish scheme uses a series of eligibility criteria which means that different claimants have received different amounts of compensation, depending on their circumstances. Therefore, unless each UK claimant is assessed individually against the same criteria, it would be impossible to give an accurate figure. It is also not possible to estimate with any certainty how many people in the UK might be eligible to apply.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the  (a) gender,  (b) age,  (c) postcode,  (d) ethnicity and  (e) sexual orientation of cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Ann Keen: Cancer registries hold information on age, gender, postcode and ethnicity. Coverage of age, gender, and postcode is 100 per cent. Coverage of ethnicity is around 75 per cent. The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) has already published a number of reports relevant to inequalities, including those on ethnicity, gender, age and deprivation.
	The NCIN will continue to work with cancer services to support improved recording of ethnicity. No data are currently held on sexual orientation. However, the NCIN will continue to collect and analyse data which will further develop the evidence base on equality issues.
	The National Cancer Equality Initiative report on Reducing cancer inequality: evidence, progress and making it happen was published on 19 March. Annex 1 of the report includes a summary of the evidence base on inequalities in cancer in England according to deprivation, age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion.
	The report is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_114353
	A copy of this report has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey to be conducted; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We have appointed an expert supplier to conduct the survey. We expect the survey to commence in spring 2010 with national and trust level reports due in autumn 2010.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend the Cancer National Awareness and Early Diagnosis programme to include all cancer  (a) networks and  (b) types.

Ann Keen: Through the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative we have allocated over £6 million to the national health service to implement services that will improve awareness of cancers and promote early diagnosis.
	We recently announced that a further £8 million in 2010-11 will be available nationally to support primary care trusts (PCTs), building on progress achieved in 2009-10. This funding will help to accelerate and sustain work in this area and focus on the biggest cancer killers-breast, lung and bowel. PCTs are being encouraged to develop community based initiatives.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to publish one-year survival figures for cancer by primary care trust for  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy: Achieving local implementation-second annual report published on 1 December 2009 includes one-year survival figures for breast, colorectal and lung cancer, by primary care trust (PCT). A copy has been placed in the Library. 2006 was the latest period for which PCT survival data were available.
	The National Cancer Intelligence Network will produce annual primary care trust updates on one-year survival. 2007 data will be published in the 2010 Cancer Reform Strategy annual report.

Cancer: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged  (a) under and  (b) over 75 years were diagnosed with (i) cancer and (ii) heart disease in each London primary care trust in each of the last five years; what proportion of those patients commenced treatment within (A) three, (B) six and (C) 12 months; and what proportion of those patients commenced treatment more than 12 months after diagnosis.

Ann Keen: The data requested for the number diagnosed with cancer are displayed in the following tables. Data on the number of patients diagnosed with heart disease are not collected centrally. Data on the date within which treatment commenced are not collected in the format requested.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, persons aged 74 years and under, primary care organisations in London( 1) , 2003 - 07( 2) 
			  Number 
			  Primary care organisation  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham 389 351 409 394 395 
			 Barnet 728 767 731 781 752 
			 Bexley 592 645 604 676 622 
			 Brent Teaching 597 565 637 585 593 
			 Bromley 838 800 826 906 835 
			 Camden 487 478 443 444 488 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 461 418 490 507 427 
			 Croydon 841 830 917 920 885 
			 Ealing 704 627 737 662 705 
			 Enfield 654 650 690 680 637 
			 Greenwich Teaching 582 541 571 493 516 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 412 365 365 390 377 
			 Haringey Teaching 491 520 477 494 498 
			 Harrow 534 515 552 439 448 
			 Havering 702 720 643 647 710 
			 Hillingdon 566 642 623 614 634 
			 Hounslow 474 451 500 530 568 
			 Islington 430 404 444 417 446 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 384 354 417 340 361 
			 Kingston 371 359 396 373 443 
			 Lambeth 615 592 623 651 619 
			 Lewisham 507 635 584 566 610 
			 Newham 423 462 457 449 504 
			 Redbridge 568 522 472 537 562 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 484 432 446 482 500 
			 Southwark 551 567 559 608 574 
			 Sutton and Merton 985 916 908 874 919 
			 Tower Hamlets 412 357 379 404 348 
			 Waltham Forest 445 409 466 477 400 
			 Wandsworth 613 634 647 656 661 
			 Westminster 559 468 511 487 446 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, persons aged 75 years and over, primary care organisations in London( 1) , 2003 - 07( 2) 
			  Number 
			  Primary care organisation  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barking and Dagenham 297 275 250 278 238 
			 Barnet 541 479 458 423 465 
			 Bexley 368 372 392 358 364 
			 Brent Teaching 276 264 305 254 225 
			 Bromley 551 506 495 567 540 
			 Camden 221 239 229 209 257 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 216 187 213 193 195 
			 Croydon 417 467 438 448 444 
			 Ealing 379 330 329 311 332 
			 Enfield 374 374 370 362 325 
			 Greenwich Teaching 348 323 324 305 296 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 172 166 190 168 171 
			 Haringey Teaching 195 192 189 186 202 
			 Harrow 295 273 315 296 270 
			 Havering 480 439 445 449 479 
			 Hillingdon 283 359 348 359 382 
			 Hounslow 272 232 249 252 257 
			 Islington 191 174 179 191 191 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 170 179 197 172 176 
			 Kingston 234 235 212 214 233 
			 Lambeth 251 267 261 240 269 
			 Lewisham 308 270 278 286 288 
			 Newham 204 223 257 238 215 
			 Redbridge 364 319 337 353 325 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 288 278 277 295 258 
			 Southwark 266 268 271 249 270 
			 Sutton and Merton 555 565 498 533 546 
			 Tower Hamlets 200 181 203 210 198 
			 Waltham Forest 294 248 242 263 205 
			 Wandsworth 324 313 289 317 299 
			 Westminster 229 231 218 207 205 
			 (1) Based on boundaries as of 2010.(  2) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year.

Cancer: Health Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that hospitals achieve or exceed minimum standards before being designated cancer centres following the implementation of his Department's guidance on improving cancer outcomes;
	(2)  what minimum standards his Department sets for the facilities to be provided by acute trusts applying to become cancer centres following the implementation of his Department's guidance on improving cancer outcomes;
	(3)  what consideration is given to the effect on the number of transfers between hospital sites by  (a) ambulance and  (b) taxi of the centralisation of NHS cancer surgery under improving outcomes guidance issued by his Department; and what mechanism is in place to assess the effect on patient care.

Ann Keen: Decisions regarding the designation and placement of cancer centres are the responsibility of local national health service hospital trusts and primary care trusts, and are made in conjunction with cancer networks and other stakeholders.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published a series of Improving Outcomes Guidance covering all major cancer tumour types. They set out recommendations on how services for cancer patients should be organised in order to ensure the best outcomes. It is for NHS trusts to implement this guidance taking into account the needs of their local populations.

Care Homes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to bring forward legislation to ensure that care homes are treated as public authorities under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Phil Hope: Care homes are already treated as public authorities under the Human Rights Act 1998, when providing publicly-arranged residential care to an individual.
	Section 145 (Human Rights Act 1998: provision of certain social care to be a public function) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 came into force on 1 December 2008 in England.
	This means that, when providing publicly-arranged residential care, independent sector care homes are required not to act incompatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights. It also means that the person receiving such care can bring proceedings against the care home under the Human Rights Act, for a breach of their Convention rights.

Carer's Allowance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals  (a) are in receipt of carer's allowance and  (b) were in receipt of carer's allowance in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Carers make a valuable contribution to society by providing important support for relatives, partners and friends who may be ill, frail, disabled or have mental health or substance misuse problems.
	Support for carers must be tailored to meet the individual's needs; enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring, while enabling the person they support to be a full and equal citizen. The revised National Carers Strategy, published in June 2008, commits the Government to investing some £255 million to support carers in the short term.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of people in receipt of carer's allowance in Great Britain in the last five years 
			  As at August each year  Number 
			 2005 445,430 
			 2006 456,700 
			 2007 468,060 
			 2008 490,030 
			 2009 520,350 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of the allowance, and excludes people with underlying entitlement but who receive no actual payment. 2. Carers entitled to receive carer's allowance may not be paid it because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carer's allowance. 3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Cochlear Implants

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cochlear implants  (a) adults and  (b) children in England received in each year from 2000.

Phil Hope: Provided is the count of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants broken down by age group, 2000-01 to 2008-09.
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants broken down age group, 2000-01 to 2008-09: Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Age group  0-17  18+  Unknown  Total 
			 2008-09 402 417 2 821 
			 2007-08 382 323 0 705 
			 2006-07 338 219 0 557 
			 2005-06 289 218 0 507 
			 2004-05 269 211 0 480 
			 2003-04 253 210 0 463 
			 2002-03 215 188 1 404 
			 2001-02 204 186 0 390 
			 2000-01 199 174 0 373 
			  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care 
		
	
	Recently there has been a revision of the methodology used to count the number of finished consultant episodes for cochlear implants and for this reason figures may not be consistent with previous data provided by the NHS Information Centre.
	Data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.

Community Care: Mentally Ill

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) community mental health teams and  (b) members of community health teams there have been in each London borough in each year since 2000; and how much funding his Department has allocated to community mental health teams in each such borough in each such year.

Phil Hope: Local data prior to 2007 are not available. Data provided are from 2007 to 2009 for each primary care trust (PCT) area. The Department does not break down PCT revenue allocations by policies, at either the national or local level. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally taking into account both local priorities and the NHS Operating Framework.
	
		
			  Mental Health Services: Total community mental teams in London as at end of March 2007 - 09 
			   31 March 2009  31 March 2008  31 March 2007 
			  Local Implementation Teams (LIT) name  Number of services  Total whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff  Number of services  Total WTE staff  Number of services  Total WTE staff 
			 London Strategic Health Authority total 135 2,766.62 132 2,743.3 133 2,694.4 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 2 40.48 2 44.82 2 42 
			 Barnet 4 86.09 4 93.39 4 91.4 
			 Bexley 4 68.17 4 63.6 4 57.69 
			 Brent 5.83 101.49 2.83 90.26 3 113.22 
			 Bromley 3 114.79 3 109.02 3 123.16 
			 Camden 6.16 103.65 6.35 97.39 8 99.23 
			 City and Hackney 2 89.4 2 91.4 3 78 
			 Croydon 5 83.7 5 82.5 5 82.8 
			 Ealing 4.03 120.76 4.2 121.6 4 115.22 
			 Enfield 6 82.21 6 86.51 6 95.29 
			 Greenwich 6 103.93 6 111.74 5 60.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4 79.6 4.05 81.59 4 80.6 
			 Haringey 5 105.39 4 114.42 4 100.6 
			 Harrow 1.99 58.52 1.96 57.61 2 51 
			 Havering 3 42.47 3 47.61 3 42.44 
			 Hillingdon 3 80.2 2.86 74.87 3 88.5 
			 Hounslow 3 92.31 3 76.75 3 85.01 
			 Islington 5 77 5 80.48 5 76.75 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.99 69.3 2.94 59.93 3 73.3 
			 Kingston 5.02 67.93 5 69.99 5 67.63 
			 Lambeth 6 123.67 6 123.67 6 123.67 
			 Lewisham 3 90.9 3 90.9 3 88.5 
			 Merton 3.53 45.48 3.45 40.58 5 48.97 
			 Newham 4 97.7 4 102 4 92 
			 Redbridge 2 54.45 2 53.05 2 57.25 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 2.08 44.89 2 56.45 4 38.98 
			 Southwark 10 159.26 10 160.66 4 139.93 
			 Sutton 3.61 45.84 3.55 46.89 5 56.09 
			 Tower Hamlets 4 111 4 106.9 4 103.47 
			 Waltham Forest 2 47.48 2 46.58 2 51.18 
			 Wandsworth 8.76 110 8 104.53 8 101.07 
			 Westminster 7 168.56 6.81 155.61 7 168.65 
			  Notes: 1. Staff data are counted at WTE 2. Some teams are shared with other LIT areas and this is shown as decimal for 2008 and 2009 collection.  Source: Mental Health Strategies

Dental Services: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he intends to allocate for the provision of NHS dental care in Leeds in each of the next three years; what plans he has to increase access to NHS dentistry in Leeds; and how many people are registered with an NHS dentist in  (a) the city of Leeds and  (b) West Yorkshire.

Ann Keen: We have invested a record £2 billion in dentistry and set up a national access programme to help the national health service deliver its commitment to provide access for all who seek it by 2011.
	Access to NHS dentistry is growing. The latest data show that 1,230,000 more patients accessed NHS services in the 24 months ending December 2009 than compared to the 24 months ending June 2008.
	We have also accepted the recommendations made by the independent review of NHS dentistry, to further improve access and quality in the long term, and will pilot these recommendations thoroughly.
	Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) will receive a funding allocation of £32,428,000 in 2010-11 for primary dental care services. This is net of income from dental charges paid by patients, which is retained locally to supplement the resources available for dentistry. It will be for individual PCTs to judge whether additional investment is required. As a result of lower NHS service tariff prices following the incorporation of an additional 0.5 per cent. efficiency requirement, PCTs have headroom in their general NHS 2010-11 budgets to fund additional growth in dentistry and other services according to local development priorities.
	Funding allocations to PCTs for 2011-12 and 2012-13 will be finalised as part of the next Spending Review. Funding for dentistry will be included within PCT unified funding allocations from 2011-12.
	Information on how many people are registered with an NHS dentist is not available in the format requested.
	Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24 month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Information on the number of patients seen in the previous 24 months, in England, is available in Table D1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics, Quarter 2: 30 September 2009 report. Information is available at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 31 December 2009 and is provided by PCT and by strategic health authority.
	This report, published on 23 February 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0910q2

Departmental Computer Software

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 699W, on Departmental ICT, what fonts were purchased through the expenditure on font licences in the last three years.

Phil Hope: Pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2010,  Official Report, column 699W, the fonts included in the expenditure of £18,112 on font licensing are as follows:
	1,000 licences to use Sylvia and Apex Sans T typefaces for use by regional and local tobacco teams were purchased in 2006, plus an upgrade of the Sylvia licences in 2009 for Smokefree;
	2,000 licences for the national health service font, Fruitger, were purchased for use by NHS organisations in 2009;
	Syntax Complete Family Pack for one to five users was purchased in 2008 in connection with the Department website; and
	Change4Life purchased a licence to distribute a custom Change4Life (people) font freely.

Departmental Contracts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance on his Department's policy on the relocation offshore of departmental jobs to companies bidding for contracts let by his Department.

Phil Hope: The Department has no plans to issue any guidance.
	The Department is committed to getting best value for money when letting outsourcing contracts.

Departmental Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms.

Phil Hope: There are currently no figures available for the financial year 2009-10. However, the cost to the Department for employing press and media officers (including planning and support staff) in the financial year 2008-09 was £1,412,000. This figure excludes social security and pension costs.
	The Department does not hold financial information which is older than 10 years.

Departmental Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time staff his Department employed in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The numbers of both full-time and part-time staff employed by the Department in each year since 1970 are published on the civil service statistics website. This can be found at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/stats-archive/archived-reports.aspx

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were.

Phil Hope: The Department advises against the use of departmental branding on promotional items, other than on occasional low-value items to support specific internal initiatives or conferences. Any such items are procured by individual teams within the Department and the Department does not hold central records on which items were procured and at what cost. To provide this information would therefore incur disproportionate cost.
	The two agencies that receive funding from the Department are the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA).
	We are informed by both NHS PASA and MHRA that they have not produced or issued any products featuring departmental branding in the last five years.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 22 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1654-55W, on departmental telephone services, whether his Department awarded contracts for the provision of services relating to the campaign-specific telephone lines and campaign-linked lines.

Phil Hope: The majority of the 13 campaign-specific call centres and other campaign-linked lines that I referred to in my previous answer were contracted via the Central Office of Information (COI). The COI will have conducted their own tender exercises as appropriate.
	Three of the lines were not contracted via COI, two of these were commissioned with another Department while the other was commissioned through an agency.
	Supporting services for the call centres such as data management or the fulfilment of publication requests would have been commissioned in the same way.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with diabetes of each  (a) gender and  (b) age group in each primary care trust area had not had their bare feet checked by a podiatrist in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Data are not centrally collected in the format requested.
	Information on the number of people with diabetes that receive a foot check is provided in the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) for 2007-08. This reports that 77 per cent. of people with diabetes in England had received a foot examination during the period. Data are available for each primary care trust for the period 2003-08. The NDA does not have complete cover for England, but adult data are now collected from all 152 primary care trusts with approximately 75 per cent. of all general practitioner practices contributing.
	Data are not collected on which health care professional undertakes the foot check.

Direct Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide further guidance to local authorities on the data to be included in national indicators for personalised budgets.

Phil Hope: Further guidance will be provided to local authorities, which is expected to be made available via the Audit Commission Information Portal in the next few months.

Eating Disorders: Young People

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many young people were treated for eating disorders by  (a) general practitioners,  (b) children and adolescent mental health specialists and  (c) other primary care specialists in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what steps his Department takes to assist parents and carers of young people with eating disorders.

Phil Hope: Information on the number of young people treated for eating disorders is not collected centrally.
	We take the issue of eating disorders, especially among young people, very seriously. Services for people with eating disorders are available throughout the country in both primary and secondary care. We asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to publish guidelines for practitioners on core interventions for these disorders which it did in 2004. These guidelines will be reviewed in 2011.
	We are also providing funding worth £131,000 for beat's (the eating disorders' charity) Pathway to Recovery project which provides a support network for people who have recovered from an eating disorder.

Food: Labelling

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what food labelling  (a) regulations and  (b) initiatives initiated by his Department since October 2008 have (i) not been delivered in line with the original schedule, (ii) been amended and (iii) been terminated.

Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food labelling policy. The regulatory changes listed, with the exception of fish labelling, emanated from changes in European Union law.
	The following amendment regulations were not delivered in line with the original
	schedule:
	The Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2010. There was a commitment during public consultation that these would come into force in December 2009. These are now coming into force on 6 April. These were delayed because of technical issues that arose during the preparation of the statutory instrument.
	The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007, amended in September 2008. The comings into force of labelling controls in this were delayed as a result of an industry-sponsored judicial review.
	The following labelling regulations were amended:
	The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2009, which was amended by Commission Regulation 415/2009/EC.
	The following labelling initiatives have been amended:
	The Food Standards Agency UK best practice guidance on Country of Origin Labelling, first published in 2002 was amended in October 2008;
	No regulatory or other public labelling initiatives have been terminated since October 2008.

General Practitioners: Training

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training general practitioners receive on  (a) referral pathways for cancer patients and  (b) how such referral pathways can be utilised.

Ann Keen: The Department does not specify the content of the general practitioner (GP) training curriculum. GPs are expected to keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their working life, and take part in educational activities that maintain and further develop their competence and performance.
	To support GPs in the referral of patients with suspected cancer, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence produced referral guidelines for suspected cancer in 2005. These guidelines are intended for use by health care professionals in primary care and can also be used in the education and training of health professionals. These guidelines are used together with local protocols for referral as agreed by the local provider and the primary care trust, and in line with national commitments for cancer waiting time standards.

Health Services: Ex-servicemen

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to assess the level of access to health services by war veterans.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not collect information specific to veterans' access to the national health service nor on how many receive priority treatment.
	NHS patients in England can expect to start their consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral unless they choose to wait longer or it is clinically appropriate that they do so. This applies to all NHS patients including veterans living in England.
	The current operating framework for the NHS makes clear the need to take account of the health needs of service families and veterans when commissioning services.

Health Visitors

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors were working in each  (a) parliamentary constituency,  (b) region,  (c) local authority area and  (d) strategic health authority area in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: National health service work force statistics are not available centrally broken down by parliamentary constituency, region and local authority area.
	A table has been placed in the Library outlining the number of health visitors in England by strategic health authority area and by primary care trust. These data are available only from 2002 onwards.

Health Visitors: Children

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in each London borough;
	(2)  what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in  (a) Manchester City,  (b) Salford City,  (c) Trafford borough,  (d) Wigan borough,  (e) Bolton borough,  (f) Rochdale borough,  (g) Tameside borough and  (i) Stockport borough;
	(3)  what the average health visitor caseload for cases involving children under five years old is in  (a) Birmingham,  (b) Wolverhampton,  (c) Dudley,  (d) Sandwell,  (e) Walsall,  (f) Solihull and  (g) Coventry.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects COVER reports under the Child Health Interim Application to be issued in London; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 24 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 388-89W. Vaccination coverage statistics for children aged up to five years in the United Kingdom from July to December 2009 were published in the Health Protection Report issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on 26 March 2010. This is published on the HPA website:
	www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/infections/immunisation.htm#cover

Hospital Beds: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospital beds there were in each London  (a) hospital and  (b) borough in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many hospital beds there were per 1,000 people in each London borough in each year since 2000;
	(3)  what the average occupancy rate was of hospital beds in each London  (a) hospital and  (b) borough in each year since 2000.

Mike O'Brien: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on hospital beds is available by national health service trust and not by individual hospital or region. NHS trusts do not cover specific areas.

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 158W, on injuries: offensive weapons, how many people aged  (a) under 16,  (b) between 16 and 18,  (c) between 19 and 25,  (d) between 26 and 35,  (e) between 36 and 50 and  (f) over 50 years were admitted to hospital in each primary care trust area in London as a result of assault with a (i) sharp and (ii) blunt object in (A) 2008 and (B) 2009; and how many such people required (1) emergency and (2) intensive care as a result of being assaulted with an (x) sharp and (y) blunt object in each of those years.

Gillian Merron: Information has been provided to show the number of finished admission episodes by selected cause codes and age groups, between 2007-08 and 2008-09 for primary care trusts (PCTs) of residence in the London area.
	It is important to note that as people may be admitted on more than one occasion, the data supplied do not describe the number of people admitted to hospital. Additionally, information on the PCT of residence does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated, as they may have travelled to another strategic health authority or PCT for treatment.
	We are unable to determine how many such people required emergency and intensive care as a result of being assaulted by a sharp and blunt object in each of those years.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes where cause code indicates assault by a sharp object (X99) or blunt object (Y00) for selected London PCTs of residence by age breakdown 2007-08 and 2008-09. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  X99 Assault by sharp object - 2008-09 
			Under 16 years  16-18 years  19-25 years  26-35 years  36-50 years  51  years and over 
			 5A4 Havering PCT - * * 7 * * 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT * - * * * - 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT - * * 8 7 * 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT * 6 * 7 6 * 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT - * 9 * * * 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT * * 10 6 * * 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT * 6 19 10 * * 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT * 10 14 9 * * 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT * 14 13 14 11 - 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 6 8 13 7 6 * 
			 5C5 Newham PCT * 8 20 22 10 * 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT * 6 13 10 * * 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT * - 11 9 7 * 
			 5HX Ealing PCT * 6 9 27 9 * 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT * * 9 9 6 * 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT * * 6 9 7 * 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT - * 11 * * * 
			 5K7 Camden PCT * * 7 6 11 * 
			 5K8 Islington PCT * * 14 * 9 * 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT * 7 9 15 * * 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT * * 6 * * - 
			 5LC Westminster PCT * * 9 12 * - 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT * 13 19 18 * * 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 13 13 24 15 14 * 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT * 6 19 * 10 - 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT * 8 13 * * * 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT - * * * * * 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 0 * 7 8 * * 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT * 6 * * * * 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT * 7 9 6 12 * 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust - * * 6 6 * 
		
	
	
		
			  Y00 assault by blunt object-2008-09 
			Under 16 years  16-18 years  19-25 years  26-35 years  36-50 years  51 years and over 
			 5A4 Havering PCT * - * * * * 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT - * - * * - 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT - * * * * - 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT - * * * * * 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT * - 6 * * * 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT - * * 6 * * 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT * - 6 * * * 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT * * * 6 * * 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT - * * * * - 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT - - 8 8 8 * 
			 5C5 Newham PCT * * 11 8 10 * 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT * * * * * * 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT - - * * 7 * 
			 5HX Ealing PCT * * 6 14 9 - 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT * * 6 7 9 * 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT - * * 6 * * 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT * - * * * - 
			 5K7 Camden PCT - - * * * * 
			 5K8 Islington PCT - * * * 6 * 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT - 6 * * 8 * 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT - - - * * - 
			 5LC Westminster PCT - - * * - * 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT * * * * * * 
			 5LE Southwark PCT - * * 11 * * 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT * * * * 6 * 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT - * * * * * 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT - * - - * - 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT * * 6 * * * 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT * * 6 * * * 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT * - 12 7 * * 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust * - * * * - 
			  
		
	
	
		
			  X99 Assault by sharp object-2007-08 
			Under 16 years  16-18 years  19-25 years  26-35 years  36-50 years  51 years and over  Age not known 
			 5A4 Havering PCT - * 10 6 7 * - 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT * * * * - - - 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT * * 7 - * * - 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT * 11 15 * 10 * - 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT * * * 6 * * - 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT * * 10 11 * * - 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT * 11 14 9 8 - - 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT * 10 10 10 8 - - 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 7 17 26 14 12 * - 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT * 6 17 9 17 * - 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 7 17 29 20 * * - 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT * 9 17 10 8 * - 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT * * 12 7 13 * - 
			 5HX Ealing PCT * * 22 13 9 * * 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT * * 6 10 7 * - 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT - 13 13 15 6 * - 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT * * * * * * - 
			 5K7 Camden PCT * 6 11 11 8 * - 
			 5K8 Islington PCT * 6 13 12 13 * - 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT * 9 20 14 8 * - 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT * * 11 * - - - 
			 5LC Westminster PCT - * 11 * 9 * - 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 10 27 15 19 10 * - 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 9 19 12 10 13 * - 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT * 13 19 10 15 * - 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT * 7 8 7 6 * - 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT - * * * - - - 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT - 7 * 7 14 * - 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT * 7 9 12 * * - 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT * 10 25 11 10 * - 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust - * 7 6 * * - 
		
	
	
		
			  Y00  Assault by blunt object-2007-08 
			Under 16 years  16-18 years  19-25 years  26-35 years  36-50 years  51years and over 
			 5A4 Havering PCT * * 6 6 - - 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT - - * - 6 - 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT * * * * - - 
			 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT * * * * * * 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT * * * 6 7 * 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT * * 7 * * * 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT - * * * -- * 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT - * 6 * * * 
			 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT * - * * * * 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT * * 6 * * - 
			 5C5 Newham PCT - 15 15 14 11 * 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT * * * * 6 * 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT - - - * * - 
			 5HX Ealing PCT * - 9 12 * - 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT * * 7 6 6 * 
			 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT * * * * 6 * 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT * * 8 - - * 
			 5K7 Camden PCT * * * * * * 
			 5K8 Islington PCT * * 9 7 * * 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT * * 8 6 7 * 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT * * * * * * 
			 5LC Westminster PCT - * - * * - 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT * * * 6 6 - 
			 5LE Southwark PCT * * 9 * * * 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT * * * * * * 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT * * * 6 * * 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT - * * - - - 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT * * 6 * * - 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT - * 8 * 7 * 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT * * 7 6 6 * 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust - * * * * * 
			  Notes: 1. Ungrossed data (i.e. not adjusted for shortfalls). 2. Small numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with * (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify numbers from the total an additional number (the next smallest) has been replaced. 3. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the Year. 4. SHA/PCT of residence The strategic health authority (SHA) or primary care trust (PCT) containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. 5. Activity included Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 6. Cause code A supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in HES.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Malnutrition: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in a  (a) private and  (b) public care home were (i) admitted to and (ii) discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of malnutrition in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Phil Hope: Information is not held in the format requested.

Malnutrition: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds days were occupied as a result of malnutrition in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not held in the format requested.
	The following tables show the count of finished consultant episode (FCE) bed days where the primary diagnosis was malnutrition split by primary care trust (PCT) of residence within the London strategic health authority from 2000-01 to 2008-09
	
		
			  Count of finished consultant episode bed days for patients resident in the primary care trusts of London  strategic health authority , where the primary diagnosis was malnutrition from 2000-01 to 2008-09 
			   2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			  Name of PCT  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes 
			 Havering PCT 45 * 13 * 0 0 0 0 10 * 
			 Kingston PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 * 
			 Bromley PCT 0 0 6 * 69 * 16 * 8 * 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 9 * 0 * 16 10 29 * 0 0 
			 Barnet PCT 5 * 2 * 0 * 39 * 34 * 
			 Hillingdon PCT 0 0 3 * 0 0 15 * 6 * 
			 Bexley PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Enfield PCT 0 0 0 * 18 7 6 * 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 1 * 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 0 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 4 * 8 8 9 * 12 * 16 * 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 0 0 14 * 10 12 6 * 3 * 
			 Newham PCT 40 * 8 * 5 * 8 * 13 * 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Redbridge PCT - - - - - - - - - - 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 17 * 26 * 0 0 0 0 14 * 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 0 0 2 * 0 0 14 * 0 0 
			 Ealing PCT 5 * 11 * 3 * 17 * 3 * 
			 Hounslow PCT 0 * 21 * 0 * 1 * 10 * 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 15 * 9 * 10 * 0 0 19 * 
			 Harrow PCT 5 * 6 * 0 0 2 * 0 0 
			 Camden PCT 2 * 0 0 6 * 0 0 12 * 
			 Islington PCT 3 * 33 * 0 0 16 * 11 * 
			 Croydon PCT 0 0 12 * 2 * 0 0 14 * 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 9 * 14 * 0 0 3 * 0 0 
			 Westminster PCT 8 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 * 
			 Lambeth PCT 1 * 5 6 4 8 38 * 0 0 
			 Southwark PCT 8 7 8 * 20 * 15 7 0 0 
			 Lewisham PCT 0 * 9 * 9 * 21 * 1 * 
			 Wandsworth PCT 6 * 3 * 0 0 0 0 2 * 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5 7 7 * 7 6 0 0 11 * 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 0 0 31 * 2 * 7 * 14 * 
			 Redbridge PCT 22 * 0 0 19 * 6 * 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 73 * 5 * 7 * 0 0 8 * 
			 Bexley Care Trust 41 7 24 * 0 * 0 * 86 * 
		
	
	
		
			   2003-04  2002-03  2001-02  2000-01 
			  Name of PCT  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes  Total episode duration of FCEs  Number of finished consultant episodes 
			 Havering PCT 6 * 9 * 20 * 0 0 
			 Kingston PCT 0 0 14 * 24 * 0 0 
			 Bromley PCT 2 * 0 0 0 0 9 * 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 0 * 0 0 17 * 1 * 
			 Barnet PCT 0 0 9 * 0 0 12 * 
			 Hillingdon PCT 0 * 7 * 11 * 0 0 
			 Bexley PCT 0 0 3 * 0 0 0 0 
			 Enfield PCT 0 0 25 * 4 * 3 * 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 0 0 55 * 0 0 0 0 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 0 * 11 * 14 * 10 * 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 1 * 0 0 4 * 0 * 
			 Newham PCT 0 0 0 0 22 6 22 * 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT - - 11 * 19 * 17 * 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT - - 0 0 13 * 0 * 
			 Redbridge PCT - - 0 0 0 0 21 * 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 0 0 0 0 33 * 61 * 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 13 * 4 * 3 * 43 * 
			 Ealing PCT 6 * 5 * 4 * 6 * 
			 Hounslow PCT 0 0 8 8 45 * 26 * 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 0 0 1 * 0 0 0 0 
			 Harrow PCT 0 * 17 * 55 * 32 * 
			 Camden PCT 35 * 13 * 5 * 3 * 
			 Islington PCT 11 * 9 * 6 * 26 * 
			 Croydon PCT 6 * 18 * 14 * 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5 * 5 * 0 0 29 * 
			 Westminster PCT 54 * 0 0 0 0 32 * 
			 Lambeth PCT 20 8 13 * 5 * 11 * 
			 Southwark PCT 7 * 14 * 9 * 5 * 
			 Lewisham PCT 1 * 0 0 13 * 68 * 
			 Wandsworth PCT 0 0 6 * 23 * 0 * 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 87 * 0 0 43 * 0 0 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 29 * 0 * 0 0 17 * 
			 Redbridge PCT 0 0 - - - - - - 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 2 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bexley Care Trust 7 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Notes:  1.  Finished consultant episode (FCE)  FCE is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. It should be noted that the figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.  2.  Episode duration/Bed Days  Episode duration is calculated as the difference in days between the episode start date and the episode end date, where both are given. Episode duration is based on finished consultant episodes and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated).  3.  Primary diagnosis  The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.  4.  ICD10 codes for Malnutrition  The ICD-10 codes for Malnutrition are:  E40.X Kwashiorkor  E41.X Nutritional marasmus  E42.X Marasmic kwashiorkor  E43.X Unspecified severe protein-energy malnutrition  E44.X Protein energy malnutrition of moderate and mild degree  E45.X Retarded development following protein-energy malnutrition  E46.X Unspecified protein-energy malnutrition  025.X Malnutrition in pregnancy  5.  PCT Changes  In July 2006, the national health service reorganised strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. Please note the following changes in PCTs in 2003-04: Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT became Waltham Forest PCT; Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT and Redbridge PCT became Redbridge PCT; and Bexley PCT became Bexley Care Trust.  6.  Assessing growth through time  HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  7.  Data quality  HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  8.  Small numbers  To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk). Where it was possible to identify numbers from the total due to a single suppressed number in a row or column, an additional number (the next smallest) has been suppressed.

Mental Health Services: Young Offender Institutions

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 678W, on young offenders: mental health services, how many young offenders at each institution were referred to  (a) acute and  (b) non-acute local child and adolescent mental health services in each year from 2002 to 2009.

Phil Hope: The information is not collected centrally.
	Transfer of the responsibility for commissioning health services in young offender institutions, and adult prisons in England, was fully devolved to the national health service by April 2006. NHS primary care trusts work with their partner establishments to develop a comprehensive health needs assessment of the population and commission on the basis of that need.
	All young offender institutions in England holding under-18s have access to comprehensive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as defined in the National Service Framework (NSF) for children.
	The document Promoting Mental Health for children held in secure settings: A Framework for Commissioning Services (DH March 2007) was developed to support primary care trusts with custodial units in their area to plan, commission and deliver requirements as per the Children's NSF.

Myasthenia Gravis: Research

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding has been allocated to research into myasthenia gravis in each year since 1997.

Gillian Merron: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	MRC expenditure in recent years on research of relevance to myasthenia has been as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 2003-04 89 
			 2004-05 206 
			 2005-06 238 
			 2006-07 240 
			 2007-08 214 
			 2008-09 323 
		
	
	There were no live MRC projects in 2001-02 and 2002-03.
	Allocations made from the Department's research and development budget have over the last 10 years been used by some research active national health service organisations to support research into myasthenia gravis. Information about the cost of that support is not held centrally. Details of the individual projects undertaken from 2000 to 2007 are available on the archived national research register at:
	https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx

NHS: Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 171-3W, on the NHS: information and communications technology, how many contractor event of default notices were issued to National Programme for IT suppliers in 2009; how many have been issued in 2010 to date; on what dates and to whom such notices have been issued; what the reasons for the issue were in each case; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such notice.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Contractor/date of issue  Reason for n otice 
			  CSC  
			 6 January 2009 Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Key Milestone 
			   
			 1 June 2009 Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Release Key Milestone 
			  Failure to achieve Release Key Milestone 
			   
			 11 August 2009 Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone 
			  Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Release Key Milestone 
			   
			 19 August 2009 Failure to achieve a Deployment Key Milestone 
			  4 x Failure to achieve a Go Live Milestone 
			  Failure to submit a Remediation Plan 
			   
			 20 August 2009 Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Quarter (Q) 2 
			 25 August 2009 9 x critical service level failures 
			   
			 2 September 2009 4 x Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Deployment Key Milestone 
			  Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Q3 
			  3 x Failure to achieve a Milestone 
			  Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Milestone 
			  3 x Failure to achieve an Interim Milestone 
			   
			 12 October 2009 Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone 
			   
			 25 October 2009 2 x Failure to achieve an Interim Milestone 
			  Failure to make a payment 
			   
			 22 December 2009 2 x Failure to achieve a Release Key Milestone 
			   
			 24 December 2009 Failure to submit a Detailed Implementation Plan Q4 
			  Failure to achieve an Early Adopter Deployment Key Milestone 
			   
			  BT  
			 26 August 2009 6 x Critical service level failures 
			 25 September 2009 10 x Critical service level failures 
			 22 October 2009 3 x Critical service level failures 
			 27 October 2009 19 x Critical service level failure 
			 20 November 2009 4 x Critical service level failure 
			 4 January 2010 6 x Critical service level failure 
			 1 February 2010 5 x Critical service level failure 
			 24 February 2010 13 x Critical service level failures 
			 4 March 2010 4 x Critical service level failure 
			 16 March 2010 No of calls answered 
			   
			  Accenture  
			 25 August 2009 3 x Repeat failure 
			   
			 2 November 2009 3 x Critical service level failure 
			  4 x Repeat failure 
			   
			 21 December 2009 19 x Repeat failures 
			   
			 10 February 2010 4 x Critical service level failure-November 2008 
			  4 x Critical service level failure-December 2008 
			   
			 8 March 2010 3 x Critical service level failure, 4 x Repeat failure-November 2009 
			  11 x Repeat failure-December 2009 
			  7 x Repeat failure-January 2010 
		
	
	The Department demands a very high level of compliance from its suppliers and contractor event of default notices reflect operational matters identified during the normal course of contract delivery that need to be addressed. The majority of the matters identified have been addressed using the existing contractual remedies. Publication of contractor event of default notices would or would be likely to cause prejudice to the commercial interests of the providers concerned. It would also potentially compromise the Department's position in any possible future formal contractual disputes, which in turn would or would be likely to cause prejudice to the commercial interests of the Department.

NHS: Medical Treatments

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on access to proton beam therapy for NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: At this time, proton beam therapy for NHS patients is nationally commissioned overseas. The National Commissioning Group established a proton therapy clinical reference panel in April 2008 to advise on suitable cancer cases to be referred overseas for treatment.
	The National Specialised Commissioning Team (NSCT) have been asked to move to the next stage in the development of proton beam therapy services in this country by holding a competition to identify a possible provider or providers of proton beam services in England and developing a full business case.
	The Department is currently working with the NSCT to evaluate early proposals from eight trusts and identify a short-list of potential providers. A business case will then be developed for submission to the Treasury.

NHS: Per Capita Costs

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of NHS expenditure per head of population in  (a) Northamptonshire and  (b) England in 2010-11.

Mike O'Brien: Revenue allocations made to Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust and the total for England in 2010-11 are given in the following table, along with the allocation per head.
	
		
			   2010-11 
			   Allocation  (£ million)  Per-head allocation (£) 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 983.4 1,422 
			 England 84,432.4 1,612 
			  Source:  Financial Planning and Allocations Division, Department of Health.

Nurses: Pay

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average salary of an NHS ward nurse was in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The average salary of a national health service ward nurse is not collected separately from the average salary for qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors working in hospitals as well as other parts of the NHS. The following table shows the average salary of qualified nurses from 2005-06 to 2008-09, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 28,784 
			 2006-07 29,861 
			 2007-08 31,149 
			 2008-09 32,339 
			  Notes: 1. Average salaries are estimated from the qualified nurse paybill figures using NHS accounts data together with the NHS pension scheme rates, and national insurance rates and thresholds that apply to NHS employers. 2. The paybill data includes all qualified nurses employed by NHS trusts, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and foundation trusts in England. It excludes agency nurses. 3. Foundation trusts do not submit a breakdown of their paybill by staff group. Figures from 2004-05 onwards include estimates for the breakdown of each foundation trust.  Sources: Department of Health Paybill Model 2008-09. Trust Financial Returns and Foundation Trust Annual Reports (Paybill data). Information Centre Workforce Census (Staff Numbers).

Nurses: Schools

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's target for one qualified school nurse to be allocated to each secondary school and its cluster of primary schools to be met.

Ann Keen: Working in partnership across health and education we have made good progress in expanding the qualified school nursing work force.
	Linking primary schools to their nearest secondary school gives about 3,000 clusters in England. The 2009 work force census showed there were 4,177 (headcount) qualified nurses working in school health services, which is an increase of 1,768 or 73 per cent. since 2004. Of these, there were 1,620 (headcount) nurses with the post registration school nurse qualification. This is an increase of 764 or 89 per cent. since 2004.

Nurses: Vacancies

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of nursing vacancies in the NHS at the end of August 2010.

Ann Keen: We do not hold estimates of likely vacancies centrally.
	Vacancy data as at 31 March are published annually by the NHS Information Centre in August of the same year.

Patients: Safety

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) fatal and  (b) other patient safety incidents in the latest year for which figures were available; and how many such incidents of each type there were in that year.

Ann Keen: The following table, supplied by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), sets out the number of incidents reported in England by degree of harm and incident type that occurred for the period July 2008 to June 2009.
	
		
			  Incidents of harm reported to NPSA by incident type, July 2008 to June 2009 - England 
			   Number of incidents 
			  Incident type  No h arm  Low  Moderate  Severe  Death  Total 
			  England   
			 Other 21,298 9,337 3,127 739 1,670 36,171 
			 Infection Control Incident 8,458 4,148 2,798 705 354 16,463 
			 Implementation of care and ongoing monitoring/review 16,387 14,803 6,098 948 156 38,392 
			 Self-harming behaviour 11,057 15,256 2,800 367 430 29,910 
			 Treatment, procedure 54,451 27,643 12,240 1,362 406 96,102 
			 Clinical assessment (including diagnosis, scans, tests, assessments) 31,252 7,170 2,702 538 175 41,837 
			 Patient abuse (by staff/third party) 4,200 1,291 326 71 15 5,903 
			 Access, admission, transfer, discharge (including missing patient) 56,118 14,389 4,756 520 126 75,909 
			 Consent, communication, confidentiality 28,254 5,134 1,359 205 49 35,001 
			 Medical device/equipment 21,353 5,037 1,443 153 43 28,029 
			 Infrastructure (including staffing, facilities, environment) 44,720 7,909 2,856 269 43 55,797 
			 Patient accident 185,266 103,471 11,936 1,358 179 302,210 
			 Medication 73,950 13,060 3,019 351 59 90,439 
			 Disruptive, aggressive behaviour 26,303 11,915 1,362 98 18 39,696 
			 Documentation (including records, identification) 47,296 5,355 886 89 12 53,638 
			 Total 630,363 245,918 57,708 7,773 3,735 945,497

Postgraduate Education

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future of its restrictions on access to post-graduate medical education for non-EEA graduates; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department undertook a consultation exercise about managing medical migration last year and there was strong support for the restrictions on access to post-graduate medical education by non-European economic area graduates and there has been no change in circumstance since then that indicates a review is required.

Primary Care Trusts: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2010,  Official Report, column 925W, on health services: disadvantage, what the total population was of  (a) spearhead and  (b) non-spearhead area primary care trusts in each year.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
	The following table contains for Spearhead and non-Spearhead primary care trusts population estimates for mid-2006 to mid-2008, and population projections for mid-2009 from ONS 2006-based Subnational Population Projections.
	
		
			  Population estimates/projections for Spearhead and non-Spearhead Primary Care Trusts, mid-2006 to mid-2009 
			   Thousand 
			   Spearhead PCTs  Non-Spearhead PCTs  Total 
			 Mid-2009 18,434 33,454 51,888 
			 Mid-2008 18,289 33,158 51.446 
			 Mid-2007 18,195 32,897 51,092 
			 Mid-2006 15,638 35,125 50,763 
			  Notes: 1. The Spearhead Group is identified in terms of local authority areas. It comprises the 'worst' fifth of local authorities for at least three out of five selected indicators, covering male life expectancy at birth, female life expectancy at birth, cancer mortality rate for under 75s, circulatory disease mortality rate for under 75s, and the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 average score. 2. Spearhead PCTs are those that overlap geographically, either wholly or partly, with the Spearhead local authorities. Spearhead PCTs on old and new boundaries cover slightly different populations. 3. Figures for mid-2007 to mid-2009 are based on PCT boundaries following the October 2006 NHS reorganisation. Mid-2006 figures are based on old PCT boundaries. 4. The figures for mid-2006 to mid-2008 are population estimates, the figures for mid-2009 are population projections from CXNS 2006-based Subnational Population Projections.  Source:  Office for National Statistics

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on deaf and hearing impaired people of the Learning and Skills Council's decision to reduce funding for adult further education, including qualifications in British Sign Language by £200 million in 2010-11.

Kevin Brennan: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are responsible for the funding of further education (FE) and skills training for adult learners aged 19 and over.
	The Skills Investment Strategy (November 2009) set out measures that would make £340 million of efficiency savings in the 2010-11 financial year. Despite these savings, investment in adult participation budget will be £3.5 billion in 2010-11 financial year: an increase of 2.9 per cent. compared with 2009-10 financial year.
	Within the total investment, we have committed to maintaining funding for the same volumes of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities as a priority group of learners. This may include individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is for FE colleges and training organisations to determine their offer to these learners in line with their level of need.

Apprentices: Equality

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to question 322635, what recent initiatives his Department has funded to increase gender equality in participation in level 3 advanced apprenticeships.

Kevin Brennan: Apprenticeships are open to those aged 16 and over, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or religious belief. Participation in apprenticeships has increased threefold over the last decade. A great deal of work is being, done to improve access further and increase gender equality in participation at all levels.
	The percentage of young women following an apprenticeship framework at Level 3 rather than Level 2 has risen from 14 per cent. in 2003/04 to 18 per cent. in 2008/09. The percentage of young men on an advanced apprenticeship has remained at 31 per cent.
	Recent activity to address gender inequalities in apprenticeships includes:
	Creation of the National Apprenticeships Service (NAS) with end-to-end responsibility for apprenticeships delivery. NAS is under a same legal duty to promote equality and diversity and one of their objectives is to:
	Increase the number, quality and background of people applying for Apprenticeships.
	NAS work with employers to help them understand and be more responsive to the needs of learners in non-traditional occupations, and promote Apprenticeships to people from these groups.
	NAS are working to develop resources on apprenticeships for careers education in schools and with information advice and guidance providers to encourage young people to think about apprenticeships in a non-stereotypical way.
	Extending apprenticeships to over 25's has seen a greater number of women taking up an apprenticeship. 63 per cent. of people aged 25 and over starting an apprenticeship in 2008/09 were female.
	We have invested £7 million to create Group Training Associations and Apprenticeship Training Agencies, with a specific remit to encourage atypical learners to take up apprenticeships.
	We have also invested £2.3 million to create diversity pilots in targeted areas for gender, BME and disabled learners, those in non-traditional occupations and their employers.
	NAS have set up an online mentoring platform through horse's mouth-open to all apprentices. 54 mentors registered so far.
	The minimum wage for apprentices increased from £80 to £95 a week last year. It is young women-apprentices like those in hairdressing and care-who have benefitted most from this increase. On 25 March 2010 the Government announced their acceptance of the Low Pay Commission's recommendations concerning apprenticeship pay. This will mean that from 1 October 2010 the present exemption from the NMW for apprentices will be ended and all apprentices in the United Kingdom must be paid at least £2.50 an hour.
	We have also committed £5 million to develop new frameworks at Levels 3 and 4 and we are creating up to 35,000 new advanced apprenticeship places for 19 to 30-year-olds over the next two years.

Brussels Forum 2010

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who will represent the UK at the Brussels Forum 2010.

Ian Lucas: The UK will be represented by senior officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Business: Government Assistance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many businesses are in receipt of assistance under the Working Capital Scheme;
	(2)  how many businesses have applied for funding under the Working Capital Scheme since 1 November 2008.

Rosie Winterton: The Working Capital Scheme (WCS) has provided guarantees to two banks on portfolios of short-term loans with good credit risk in order to release regulatory capital to enable those banks to increase lending to businesses. The two banks with WCS guarantees, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, have made lending commitments of £39 billion.
	Public Borrowing Review 2009 announced that as the broader asset protection scheme now provides banks with considerably greater capital release, so new portfolios will not be guaranteed under the WCS although existing portfolio guarantees will remain until March 2011. Because the WCS was only available to banks, companies were not eligible to apply.

Competition Commission: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2009,  Official Report, column 1091W, on the Competition Commission: public relations, what briefing documents Euro RSCG Apex Communications has produced for the Competition Commission in the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: Euro RSCG Apex Communications has not produced any briefing documents for the Competition Commission. As detailed in the previous answer referred to Euro RSCG Apex Communications has provided occasional advice to the Commission over the past three years, mainly in relation to stakeholder communications. Such advice has normally been provided through meetings or by commenting on particular documents.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Pat McFadden: The gym facilities in the Department are funded by subscriptions of members of the Department's Sports and Social Association or Civil Service Sports Council.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010,  Official Report, column 394W, on departmental internet, what the cost of each such website redesign was.

Pat McFadden: Detailed information about the costs of the Department's websites since June 2007, including redesigns, is readily available on the BIS website at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/costs-usage
	The cost of the 2006 redesign of the then DTI website was an estimated £175,000, as noted in the response to a Freedom of Information request published 16 June 2006 on the BIS website, titled 'Accessibility of DTI website' at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/site/foi/information-released

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what events have been hosted by his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Pat McFadden: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Energy: Prices

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what powers his Department has to protect consumers from unfair competition and profiteering in respect of  (a) retail motor fuel prices,  (b) retail home heating oil and  (c) the price of oil used by commerce and industry; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 contain a range of powers to protect consumers from unfair competition in the UK economy including the markets for petrol retailing, home heating oil and oil used by Industry.
	As the UK's independent competition authority, the Office of Fair Trading has been given significant powers to investigate and enforce competition law.
	These powers allow OFT to investigate agreements and practices that are designed to prevent, restrict or distort competition or abuses of market dominance.
	They also allow the OFT to investigate markets where they are not working to the benefit of consumers. Sectoral regulators also have concurrent powers to investigate and enforce competition law in their relevant sectors.
	The OFT will take seriously any complaints or any other information it receives about these markets and will use its powers to investigate where appropriate.

Fusion Power: Research

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Government funding has been allocated to research and development in relation to fusion power in each year since the UK fusion programme began.

David Lammy: Figures for the Government funding of nuclear fusion research in the UK are available from financial year 1974/75 and are given as follows. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) took over the responsibility for funding the fusion programme in 2003/04 and its subsequent funding is also provided.
	EURATOM also fund fusion research in the UK through the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The UK contributes indirectly to the EURATOM European fusion research programme through its payments to the EU budget.
	
		
			  Financial year  UK Government expenditure on fusion research (£  million) 
			 1974/75 4.3 
			 1975/76 5.7 
			 1976/77 6.6 
			 1977/78 7.3 
			 1978/79 8.3 
			 1979/80 10.5 
			 1980/81 11.4 
			 1981/82 17.3 
			 1982/83 12.5 
			 1983/84 14.1 
			 1984/85 18.9 
			 1985/86 21.1 
			 1986/87 23.1 
			 1987/88 22.0 
			 1988/89 24.1 
			 1989/90 24.1 
			 1990/91 21.9 
			 1991/92 20.1 
			 1992/93 16.3 
			 1993/94 16.0 
			 1994/95 15.9 
			 1995/96 15.7 
			 1996/97 12.1 
			 1997/98 16.6 
			 1998/99 12.6 
			 1999/2000 14.3 
			 2000/01 17.0 
			 2001/02 14.4 
			 2002/03 14.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year  EPSRC funding for fusion research (£million) 
			 2003/04 15.9 
			 2004/05 19.4 
			 2005/06 17.3 
			 2006/07 22.3 
			 2007/08 21.7 
			 2008/09 32.6

Higher Education: Admissions

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham of 5 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 594-96W, on higher education: free school meals, if he will provide the figures by  (a) constituency and  (b) local authority.

David Lammy: The following figures show pupils who were in English maintained schools and aged 15 at the start of academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 who progressed to HE by the age of 19 (in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively) by local authority. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency. 2005/06 is the earliest year for which these figures are available.
	Care should be exercised when comparing figures across local authorities as the numbers of free school meal children will vary significantly at local authority level. These figures have been estimated using matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record. Figures for 2007/08 will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Estimates of the proportion of pupils aged 15 in 2001/02 and 2002/03 academic years, in English maintained schools, who progressed to HE( 1)  by the age of 19 in 2005/06 and 2006/07 respectively, by local authority 
			  Percentage 
			  Local authority  Young persons in UK HE  O f which: Russell Group HEIs 
			   FSM( 2)  Non-FSM( 2)  FSM( 2)  Non-FSM( 2) 
			   2005/06  2006/07  2005/06  2006/07  2005/06  2006/07  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Camden 29 30 43 44 3 3 13 10 
			 Greenwich 14 17 28 24 1 1 2 2 
			 Hackney 28 31 28 34 4 1 4 3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 23 26 49 49 1 3 13 13 
			 Islington 22 26 22 30 2 * 2 3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 29 38 43 48 5 5 8 10 
			 Lambeth 18 20 30 36 1 1 5 3 
			 Lewisham 20 20 31 33 3 1 5 5 
			 Southwark 21 19 24 30 1 1 3 3 
			 Tower Hamlets 24 25 29 33 1 1 3 3 
			 Wandsworth 27 22 38 37 2 2 7 7 
			 Westminster 28 35 37 38 2 3 7 7 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13 17 22 22 1 2 2 2 
			 Barnet 28 27 51 50 3 3 17 15 
			 Bexley 15 11 32 32 2 * 5 5 
			 Brent 30 32 47 53 3 3 7 10 
			 Bromley 16 15 41 38 2 1 10 10 
			 Croydon 19 21 32 35 1 1 5 5 
			 Ealing 28 30 48 53 3 2 7 8 
			 Enfield 24 26 41 41 2 1 8 7 
			 Haringey 21 22 35 37 2 1 7 6 
			 Harrow 27 27 54 51 4 2 11 9 
			 Havering 11 10 30 32 0 2 5 4 
			 Hillingdon 13 18 35 38 1 2 5 4 
			 Hounslow 26 26 46 44 2 3 8 7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 24 22 48 50 1 3 15 16 
			 Merton 13 22 32 35 * 2 5 5 
			 Newham 30 29 39 41 2 2 4 4 
			 Redbridge 30 35 50 53 4 3 10 11 
			 Richmond upon Thames 19 19 39 39 1 2 9 8 
			 Sutton 15 20 49 48 1 2 16 14 
			 Waltham Forest 25 26 34 36 1 1 4 3 
			 Birmingham 18 18 37 38 2 2 9 10 
			 Coventry 14 15 33 32 1 1 5 4 
			 Dudley 9 12 30 29 1 1 7 6 
			 Sandwell 12 15 24 21 1 1 3 2 
			 Solihull 14 12 36 38 1 1 9 8 
			 Walsall 12 13 31 29 1 1 6 4 
			 Wolverhampton 13 14 35 34 1 1 6 5 
			 Knowsley 8 10 20 24 1 1 3 3 
			 Liverpool 12 14 35 34 2 2 10 9 
			 St. Helens 9 11 35 37 1 2 6 7 
			 Sefton 13 12 39 37 1 1 10 8 
			 Wirral 11 11 41 42 2 2 14 13 
			 Bolton 15 15 33 33 * 2 6 6 
			 Bury 17 16 35 34 1 2 6 6 
			 Manchester 15 14 26 28 2 2 7 7 
			 Oldham 16 15 32 31 2 3 6 5 
			 Rochdale 15 14 27 28 2 1 4 4 
			 Salford 7 6 22 24 * * 3 3 
			 Stockport 11 11 35 36 1 1 8 9 
			 Tameside 10 9 25 25 2 1 6 5 
			 Trafford 14 17 42 44 3 4 15 15 
			 Wigan 10 10 30 31 * 1 6 6 
			 Barnsley 4 5 23 22 1 1 5 3 
			 Doncaster 7 8 26 26 1 * 5 5 
			 Rotherham 7 7 28 30 1 1 6 5 
			 Sheffield 9 12 31 30 1 1 9 9 
			 Bradford 16 17 28 30 1 1 5 5 
			 Calderdale 16 13 33 36 2 1 6 7 
			 Kirklees 17 14 33 34 2 2 7 7 
			 Leeds 9 10 32 30 1 2 8 7 
			 Wakefield 8 6 28 28 1 1 6 5 
			 Gateshead 11 14 34 34 * 1 7 6 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 8 9 27 30 1 1 7 6 
			 North Tyneside 8 7 32 31 0 * 7 7 
			 South Tyneside 9 7 28 28 * 0 5 4 
			 Sunderland 7 6 27 28 1 * 3 3 
			 Isles of Scilly n/a. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 10 11 34 33 1 1 8 8 
			 Bristol, City of 5 8 18 21 * 0 4 4 
			 North Somerset 14 8 36 34 2 0 9 8 
			 South Gloucestershire 8 8 28 29 2 0 5 5 
			 Hartlepool 10 12 28 31 1 1 4 4 
			 Middlesbrough 9 12 30 30 1 1 4 2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 11 8 36 35 1 0 5 4 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 10 11 37 35 * 1 6 6 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 5 6 18 18 0 * 2 2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 9 12 34 35 0 2 6 6 
			 North East Lincolnshire 8 12 23 22 1 1 4 3 
			 North Lincolnshire 6 6 27 27 2 2 6 5 
			 North Yorkshire 11 11 38 38 1 0 10 9 
			 York 9 8 35 35 0 1 8 8 
			 Bedfordshire 10 10 33 33 1 * 6 5 
			 Luton 23 21 32 31 1 1 4 4 
			 Buckinghamshire 16 20 49 48 2 2 17 16 
			 Milton Keynes 6 9 27 30 * 1 4 3 
			 Derbyshire 8 10 33 32 1 1 8 8 
			 Derby 12 14 32 34 2 1 6 5 
			 Dorset 7 13 31 30 1 1 5 5 
			 Poole 14 10 36 35 1 3 8 8 
			 Bournemouth 12 12 34 30 0 1 7 6 
			 Durham 6 7 28 30 * 1 5 6 
			 Darlington 12 8 33 32 0 2 7 6 
			 East Sussex 9 8 28 29 * * 4 5 
			 Brighton and Hove 10 12 26 27 2 2 4 4 
			 Hampshire 8 8 32 33 1 1 7 6 
			 Portsmouth 10 10 21 22 1 1 3 3 
			 Southampton 9 9 26 26 1 2 6 6 
			 Leicestershire 13 12 35 35 1 1 6 6 
			 Leicester 19 17 39 39 * 2 5 4 
			 Rutland 5 9 31 32 0 0 6 5 
			 Staffordshire 10 10 32 32 1 1 5 5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 8 8 22 24 * * 3 2 
			 Wiltshire 5 9 34 33 1 1 8 7 
			 Swindon 7 4 27 24 1 1 6 5 
			 Bracknell Forest 5 4 30 30 0 0 5 6 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 18 18 39 42 0 0 6 7 
			 West Berkshire 7 14 34 36 0 3 7 7 
			 Reading 7 5 36 34 0 0 14 14 
			 Slough 15 23 46 44 0 1 10 10 
			 Wokingham 5 14 43 41 1 1 9 8 
			 Cambridgeshire 8 6 31 33 1 1 7 7 
			 Peterborough 13 11 25 30 1 2 5 5 
			 Cheshire 9 9 39 39 1 1 10 9 
			 Halton 7 8 27 28 1 1 5 4 
			 Warrington 8 9 34 33 2 0 8 7 
			 Devon 11 10 28 28 1 1 5 5 
			 Plymouth 8 7 30 30 1 1 5 4 
			 Torbay 10 11 37 35 1 1 10 9 
			 Essex 9 9 30 29 1 1 4 4 
			 Southend-on-Sea 9 11 37 38 0 1 8 9 
			 Thurrock 5 8 20 20 0 0 2 1 
			 Herefordshire 8 10 32 33 1 1 7 8 
			 Worcestershire 8 7 33 34 1 1 8 7 
			 Kent 8 9 34 35 1 1 7 7 
			 Medway 11 11 29 31 0 1 4 4 
			 Lancashire 15 14 34 35 2 1 7 7 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 21 14 34 33 1 2 4 5 
			 Blackpool 5 12 24 21 1 1 3 3 
			 Nottinghamshire 9 8 29 30 1 1 8 6 
			 Nottingham 8 6 21 23 I 1 5 5 
			 Shropshire 9 8 33 33 1 0 7 7 
			 Telford and Wrekin 7 10 30 32 * 1 7 7 
			 Cornwall 12 10 28 29 1 1 4 3 
			 Cumbria 8 10 34 35 1 1 8 8 
			 Gloucestershire 9 10 36 37 1 1 9 9 
			 Hertfordshire 13 13 40 40 1 1 9 9 
			 Isle of Wight 9 9 26 29 0 1 3 4 
			 Lincolnshire 8 5 33 34 1 1 9 8 
			 Norfolk 8 6 26 27 * * 4 4 
			 Northamptonshire 10 10 31 32 * 1 5 5 
			 Northumberland 7 14 35 35 * 1 9 8 
			 Oxfordshire 10 8 33 34 * 1 8 7 
			 Somerset 9 7 31 29 1 1 6 5 
			 Suffolk 10 10 30 31 1 1 5 5 
			 Surrey 12 15 38 38 1 1 7 7 
			 Warwickshire 9 9 35 35 1 X 8 7 
			 West Sussex 11 10 32 32 2 X 6 6 
			 n/a = not applicable-figures for Isles of Scilly have been excluded due to small numbers. * = where percentages are less than 0.5 per cent. 0% = no pupils identified.  (1) Includes HE level courses at English further education colleges.  (2) FSM and non-FSM indicate receipt and non-receipt of free school meals respectively.   Note:  In 2002/03 there were 81,100 maintained school pupils aged 15 claiming free school meals. This represents around 14 per cent. of all pupils in English maintained schools. The number of pupils claiming free school meals will vary between local authorities.   Source:  Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record.

Higher Education: Sheffield

Clive Betts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of young people in  (a) each Sheffield constituency and  (b) the City of Sheffield have entered higher education in each year since 1998.

David Lammy: holding answer 25 March 2010
	The numbers of young (under 21) undergraduate entrants, from the Sheffield constituencies of Attercliffe, Brightside, Central, Hallam, Heeley and Hillsborough and Sheffield local authority, are provided in the following table. Figures are provided for the academic years 1998/99 to 2008/09.
	
		
			  Percentage change in young undergraduate entrants: 1998/99 to 2008/09 
			   Change (percentage) 
			 Sheffield Attercliffe +74 
			 Sheffield Brightside +91 
			 Sheffield Central +78 
			 Sheffield Hallam +12 
			 Sheffield Heeley +44 
			 Sheffield Hillsborough +53 
			 Sheffield local authority +46 
		
	
	The Department does not collect data on the number of residents in a particular area who are not in higher education, which would be necessary to calculate a proportion. It is, therefore, not possible to calculate the proportion of young people in each Sheffield constituency and Sheffield local authority who have entered higher education in each year since 1998.

Industrial Development Associations

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the timetable is for regional advisory investment panels to replace regional industrial development boards.

Rosie Winterton: As stated in the annual report to Parliament under the Industrial Development Act 1982 for year ending 31 March 2009 (HC 668), it is expected that the regional development agencies will appoint new advisory panels to replace the regional industrial development boards by the end of the current financial year.

Loans

Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals  (a) to introduce more stringent regulation of the activities of companies offering payday loans and  (b) to require companies offering payday loans to charge a rate of interest broadly in line with that levied by the larger banks; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Government are concerned at the impact of high cost credit products on the most vulnerable people in society. A diverse and innovative credit market benefits consumers, but there is a fine line between promoting choice and some of the recent innovations in the payday loan market, such as loans offered via the internet or mobile phone, that appear to make it too easy to access credit anywhere and at any time without thinking through the implications.
	We will shortly be implementing the new Consumer Credit Directive into UK law. The directive will give consumers new protections such as a 14-day right to cancel any credit agreement without penalty and require lenders, including payday lenders, to provide clear information to consumers on new loans, and check borrowers' creditworthiness before lending.
	The Office of Fair Trading will soon be publishing its new Irresponsible Lending Guidance covering the marketing and selling of credit products. The guidance will ensure that that lenders do not irresponsibly promote credit and will make clear the standards expected of them at all stages of the lending process. Government are determined to tackle irresponsible lenders, and those who are unable or unwilling to follow the guidance face being stripped of their credit licences.
	The Office of Fair Trading is also reviewing the high cost credit area, including analysis on the impact of interest rate caps, and they are due to publish their findings and recommendations shortly. We will not hesitate to act if the review finds that further action is necessary to protect consumers.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 1 February 2010 on Joshua Carroll, transferred from the Department for International Development.

Kevin Brennan: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State responded to my right hon. Friend on 24 March 2010.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many loans have been provided under his Department's Automotive Assistance Programme in each constituency; and how much has been loaned in total under the scheme in each constituency.

Ian Lucas: The Automotive Assistance programme (AAP) was set up to provide loan guarantees, and in exceptional cases, loans. On 18 September 2009, the Department announced the offer of a £10 million loan to Tata Motors European Technical Centre to support £25 million of investment in the Coventry area. However, the company was subsequently successful in accessing financial support elsewhere.
	On 12 March 2010, we announced a conditional offer of €300 million (£270 million) loan guarantee to GM Europe which will help secure the company's operations in Britain and the rest of Europe.
	On 18 March 2010, we announced the Government's willingness to provide £360 million in loan guarantees under the AAP towards six projects at Ford's research and development centre at Dunton in Essex and its manufacturing plants in Dagenham, Southampton and Bridgend in South Wales, supporting a proposed loan from the European Investment Bank.

National Investment Corporation

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010,  Official Report, column 396W, on National Investment Corporation, which external advisers have been used; and how much has been paid to each such adviser.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 March 2010
	The Department has engaged KPMG and Addleshaw Goddard.
	To date, the Department has paid Addleshaw Goddard £13,888.96 for legal advice on the Growth Capital Fund and no payments have yet been made to KPMG.

Regional Development Agencies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding  (a) his Department and  (b) each regional development agency is providing to support Regional European Networks in 2009-10.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not identified any payments made to the Regional European Networks.
	All the English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have some form of regional representation in Brussels and the RDAs contribute to and participate in this to varying degrees. This representation has supported each region in securing significant investment from a range of European funding streams; influencing legislation in order to ensure a competitive business environment; identifying economic opportunities for the region; and building key relationships to support these actions. The RDAs believe that it is important to continue to build on these activities in order to support the delivery of regional strategies, aid economic recovery and ensure the future growth of the English regions.
	Figures exclude VAT unless otherwise stated.
	
		
			  Title  Cost £000 (RDA financial contribution only 2008-09) 
			 East of England Brussels Office 64 
			 England's East Midlands European Office 312 
			 London's European Office 50 
			 North East England in Europe (1)67 
			 North West Brussels Office 82 
			 South East England Brussels Office 136 
			 South West UK in Europe Brussels Office 241 
			 West Midlands in Europe Office 455 
			 Yorkshireurope 165 
			 (1) Inclusive of VAT.

Science: Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Government plans to increase expenditure in the public science base at least in line with the trend growth rate of the economy through the period to 2014 referred to in the Ten-Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework.

David Lammy: This Government remain committed to sustained investment in science and research, as set out in the 10-Year Science and Innovation Investment Framework and to the ring fence around the Science and Research Budget.
	Total investment in science and research has doubled since 1997 and will increase to a record level of £6 billion in 2010-11.

Small Businesses: Borrowing

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of high street banks on the cost of borrowing for small businesses.

Rosie Winterton: The Department continues to collect SME lending data from the four main banking groups (Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, RBS) on a monthly basis. The headline messages from the bank data returns-including cost of finance-are discussed at the Small Business Finance Forum, which meets quarterly, is chaired by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Small Business and attended by representatives from the high street banks as well as key small business representative bodies.
	The Department's data show that generally, the cost of finance remains lower than in 2007 due to falls in the base rate, despite increases in bank margins. Fixed rate finance remains lower than in 2007 and 2008, and margins on variable rate finance in October 2009 remain at comparable levels to previous months.

Social Enterprises

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the banking industry to promote awareness of and lending to community interest companies; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: I have had no such discussions. I have however met recently with the Regulator of Community Interest Companies who talks to banks and other finance providers to raise awareness of community interest companies. She also provides guidance on her website for potential funders of community interest companies.

Student Loans Company

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total cost has been of the independent reviews of the Student Loans Company conducted by  (a) Professor Sir Deian Hopkin and  (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers.

David Lammy: The total cost of the independent review of the Student Loans Company conducted by Professor Sir Deian Hopkin was £25,613.
	The total cost of the independent review of the Student Loans Company being conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers is not yet known as the review has not been completed.

Student Loans Company: Telephone Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the  (a) average time taken to answer a call,  (b) average waiting time for a member of the public during a call,  (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and  (d) average length of a call was in call centres run by the Student Loans Company in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The following information has been provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC) and relates to all inbound traffic to SLC's centres in Darlington, Glasgow and Wales, relating to calls from all customers about applications for loans, grants and other products administered on behalf of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and about repayment of loans by customers from all domiciles.
	 (a) The average time taken to answer a call (including interactive voice responses) and  (b) the average waiting time for a member of the public during a call to the Student Loans Company in the latest period for which figures are available is set out in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Average time 
			  2009  
			 April 03:01 
			 May 02:40 
			 June 01:57 
			 July 02:38 
			 August 03:07 
			 September 05:13 
			 October 02:15 
			 November 01:59 
			 December 02:21 
			   
			  2010  
			 January 02:04 
			 February 00:44 
			 March 01:00 
		
	
	 (c) The percentage of calls abandoned or not answered is set out in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Percentage 
			  2009  
			 April 23.2 
			 May 23.4 
			 June 24.5 
			 July 28.3 
			 August 71.1 
			 September 85.4 
			 October 33.0 
			 November 15.4 
			 December 2009 15.0 
			   
			  2010  
			 January 19.1 
			 February 4.8 
			 March 5.1 
		
	
	 (d) The average length of a call in call centres run by the Student Loans Company in the latest period is set out in table 3.
	
		
			  Table 3 
			   Average length of call 
			  2009  
			 April 07:03 
			 May 06:51 
			 June 06:08 
			 July 06:02 
			 August 06:26 
			 September 07:10 
			 October 06:49 
			 November 06:51 
			 December 06:29 
			   
			  2010  
			 January 06:09 
			 February 05:40 
			 March 05:37

Students: Loans

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many graduates have had their student loan debt recovered by the Student Loans Company through EU Regulation 14/2001 since 2006.

David Lammy: EC Regulation 44/2001 enables the Student Loans Company (SLC) to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries. EC Regulation 44/2001 is not required where court action is raised in the country of domicile.
	In early 2009, the SLC contacted 54 EU borrowers in order to start the legal process. Experience suggests that the majority of cases are resolved satisfactorily when the SLC advise borrowers that legal action will be taken, and where appropriate student debt has been recovered before court action has been raised. However, there remain a small number of cases which may be subject to court action under Regulation EU 44/2001 where action is ongoing. Student loan debt has so far been recovered from two students where court action was raised in their country of domicile, where the relevant local law is applicable.

Students: Loans

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in what circumstances the Student Loans Company would expect to enforce the provisions of EU Regulation 14/2001.

David Lammy: Effective collection across the EU is underpinned by EC Regulation 44/2001 which allows the Student Loans Company (SLC) to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries. SLC will use this whenever necessary.

Students: Loans

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cash cost of  (a) fee loans and  (b) maintenance loans in higher education in England is in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

David Lammy: The current estimated cash provision for fee loans and maintenance loans given to students domiciled in England is £5.2 billion in 2009-10 and £5.7 billion in 2010-11.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the figures as fee loans and maintenance loans are a combined budget.

Students: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students  (a) currently resident in City of York constituency,  (b) studying at the university of York and  (c) studying at the university of York St. John receive (i) grants towards their university fees and (ii) non-repayable bursaries towards their maintenance costs.

David Lammy: Since academic year 2006/07 students have been able to defer payment of tuition fees by taking out a Tuition Fee Loan. Tuition fee grants have not been available to new students since then and are only available to those who began their study before 2006/07.
	In academic year 2008/09 100 students with home addresses in the York local authority area were awarded tuition fee grants. Reliable information is not available at constituency or university level.
	The information requested on bursaries is not available centrally as they are the responsibility of higher education institutions.

Supermarkets: Alcoholic Drinks

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to prevent sales promotions by supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost price.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government consulted last year on banning the sale of alcohol below duty plus VAT, a form of loss-leader.
	We continue to look at how we can tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol, while respecting the rights of responsible consumers and the Government have commissioned further research in this area.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many  (a) homes and  (b) affordable homes have been built in each London borough in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) homes and  (b) affordable homes were built in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Ian Austin: I have today placed tables in the Library of the House showing for each London borough since 1997-98 the number of new house building completions and also the number of additional new build affordable dwellings.
	Not all affordable housing is provided through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2008-09, for example, a total of 12,890 additional affordable homes were provided in London.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 867-8W, on Audit Commission, what the  (a) date and  (b) purpose was of each meeting of the Audit Commission for which external meeting venues were booked in the last 24 months.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred:
	There have been four occasions in the last 24 months when external meeting venues have been booked for Audit Commission meetings. These are listed as follows:
	23-24 April 2008: Strategic Board Meeting
	11 December 2008: Board Meeting (external venue was used during downsizing work to Millbank offices)
	22-23 April 2009: Strategic Board Meeting
	17 December 2009: Board Meeting (external venue was used due to lack of heating at Millbank offices)
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 868W, on Audit Commission, for what purposes  (a) Lexington Communications and  (b) Consolidated Communications were hired by the Audit Commission; what public affairs and lobbying activity each undertook; and what documents and other briefing materials each produced for the Commission.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	 Parliamentary Question: pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for on Audit Commission, for what purposes (a) Lexington Communications and (b) Consolidated Communications were hired by the Audit Commission; what public affairs and lobbying activity each undertook; and what the documents and other briefing materials each produced for the Commission
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	Lexington Communications and Consolidated Communications were contracted to provide parliamentary and political monitoring research support.
	The Audit Commission ceased its contract with Lexington Communications in 2005. There are no retained briefing notes produced for the Audit Commission by Lexington Communications.
	In response to a recent Parliamentary Question by Bob Neill MP (PQ02427), we advised that the contract with Consolidated Communications had ceased in October 2008 and copies of all retained briefing notes were placed in the House of Commons Library.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 870-1W, on Audit Commission, for what reason only 68 per cent. of hotel bookings were made through the Expotel facility; and what proportion of such bookings made through the Expotel facility were for hotels at five stars or above in 2008-09.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	The Expotel contract is predominately used to book overnight hotel accommodation. There is the facility to use the Expotel service for external meetings but there is flexibility to negotiate directly with venues to secure better rates. The remaining 32% of spend identified as not going through Expotel relates to external meeting bookings and a small proportion of those are for hotels that do not accept bookings through Expotel.
	Ten five star hotels were booked in 2008/09, which equates to 0.6% of total spend.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 870W, on Audit Commission, which senior Audit Commission officials had use of a Government driver in the last 12 months; and on how many occasions in each such case.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	Government chauffeurs are not used by the Audit Commission. The Government Car and Despatch Agency is used as it is a greener and more cost effective alternative to black cabs.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, column 872W, on the Audit Commission, what the purpose was of each of the meetings at Shepherd's of Marsham Street, London; and who attended each.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the chief executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	On 18 July 2007 the purpose of the dinner was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission Management Team (Chief Executive, MD Audit, MD Communications  Public Reporting, MD Corporate Services, MD Health, MD Human Resources, MD Local Government, MD Policy, Research  Studies), the Head of the Chief Executive's Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Chief Executive of the National Consumer Council.
	On 30 January 2008 the purpose of the dinner was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission Management Team, the Head of the Chief Executive's Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Director of Policy Exchange.
	On 27 February 2008 the event was a lunchtime seminar to discuss issues on Devolution vs Centralisation since 1983 to aid the production of a paper on the subject. From the Audit Commission the attendees were the Chief Executive and the MD Policy, Research  Studies. The attendees were David Curry MP, David Heath MP, Sir Peter Soulsby MP, Peter Brokenshire, Jake Arnold-Forster and Sir Brian Briscoe  Paul Rigg, Local Government Association.
	The purpose of the dinner on 9 July 2008 was to discuss issues that would be relevant to the work undertaken by the Commission in the coming six months. The attendees were the Audit Commission Management Team, the Head of the Chief Executive's Office and an external speaker. The external speaker on this occasion was the Senior Policy Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 870-71W, on the Audit Commission, which bookings for hotels were not made through the Expotel hotel reservations facility in 2008-09; and for what reasons they were not made through the facility.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	In 2008/09, we made bookings with 34 hotels outside of the Expotel hotel reservations facility. The Expotel contract is predominately used to book overnight hotel accommodation, but we also use Expotel for events, some of which may include overnight accommodation. The bookings with the other hotels were made, in some cases, after direct negotiation to secure better rates and in others because of attendance at events at specific non Expotel hotels.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 10 February 2010,  Official Report, column 1023W, on the Audit Commission, for what occasion Roleplay UK was engaged by his Department on each date in 2008 and 2009 given in the answer; and for what reason in each case.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	The attached schedule details the individual engagements of Roleplay UK in 2008 and 2009.
	The majority of assignments related to recruitment assessment centres. Roleplayers were used to assist with the selection of new staff (graduate trainees and managers) and acted the parts of clients or employees in work sample roleplays.
	There were nine development centres in 2008 where roleplayers played the part of a Chief Executive in order to assess staff skills in dealing with difficult client scenarios.
	There was one training event in 2009 which involved roleplayers.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in  Hansard.
	
		
			  2008 
			  Date  
			  Recruitment assessment centres  
			 2 January District Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 2 January Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 4 February Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 25 February Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 25 February CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 25 February CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 28 February CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 3 March Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 5 March Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 13 March Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 13 March Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 14 March Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 17 March Principal Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 25 March Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 27 March Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 14 April District Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 24 April CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 24 April CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 24 April Principal Auditor Assessment 
			 29 April Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 1 May CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 8 May Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 16 May CAAL Assessment Centre 
			 21 May Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 28 May Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 8 July Assessment Centre 
			 23 July Principal Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 31 July Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 31 July Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 12 August Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 12 August Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 26 August Graduate Trainee Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 2 September Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 7 October Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 14 October Principal Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 17 October Principal Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 21 October Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 21 October Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 20 November Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 25 November Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 25 November Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 11 December Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 23 December Graduate Assessment Centre 
			   
			  Development centres  
			 2 January Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 10 January Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 14 January Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 6 February Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 25 February Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 30 March Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 16 April Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 6 June Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
			 19 September Corporate Assessment Accreditation Centre 
		
	
	
		
			  2009 
			  Date  
			  Recruitment Assessment Centres  
			 11 February Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 6 May Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 4 June Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			 11 May District Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 28 September District Auditor Assessment Centre 
			 9 July Finance Manager Assessment Centre 
			 10 July Finance Manager Assessment Centre 
			 20 November Finance Manager Assessment Centre 
			 13 January Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 26 January Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 26 January Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 11 February Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 13 February Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 27 March Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 30 July Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 30 July Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 27 August Graduate Assessment Centre 
			 8 June Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 29 June Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 17 July Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 28 August Performance Specialists-Benefits Assessment Centre 
			 14 May Senior Audit Manager Assessment Centre 
			   
			  Training event  
			 23 February Knowledge Sharing Session

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 February 2010,  Official Report, column 624W, on the Audit Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of each of the employment tribunal cases, including any settlement payments.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	Seven employment tribunal claims have been brought against the Commission by members of staff or former staff in the last four years. The grounds of dispute, outcome and settlement payments in each case are outlined below.
	1. A former employee argued that dismissal on grounds of redundancy was unfair. The matter was settled on cost efficiency grounds in the sum of £5000.
	2. A former employee disputed the amount of holiday pay owed by the Commission on termination of employment. The Tribunal dismissed the claim. Counsel's fees were £778.
	3. A former employee alleged breach of contract relating to an agreement to make payment in lieu of notice (PILON). The claim was settled for a nominal amount. Settlement and Counsel's costs were £1250.
	4. A former employee brought a claim against the Commission for failure to make an ill-health retirement recommendation to the Commission's Pension Scheme Trustees. The claim was withdrawn with no Counsel or settlement costs.
	5. A former employee argued that dismissal on grounds of redundancy was unfair. The claim was withdrawn with no Counsel or settlement costs.
	6. Nine members of staff brought a claim against the Commission for equal pay. The claim was upheld by the Employment Tribunal and is the subject to an appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Counsel's costs to date for hearing and appeal are £29,200. This case is ongoing.
	7. A former employee has brought claims against the Commission for unfair dismissal, race discrimination, disability discrimination and other related claims. The claims are yet to be heard and are fully contested by the Commission. Counsel's costs to date are £850. This claim is ongoing.
	These figures do not include costs associated with managing claims by Commission officers as this information is not collected.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Audit Commission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 624-28W, on the Audit Commission, whether the Audit Commission has made payments to City Inn Westminster in the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	The Audit Commission has made the following payments to the City Inn Westminster in the last five years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 45,955.29 
			 2006-07 40,318.46 
			 2007-08 45,237.07 
			 2008-09 157,402.42 
			 2009-10 117,715.52 
			  Note: Expotel data before April 2006 has been excluded from the 2005-06 total as this information has been archived and was not accessible in time for the response. 
		
	
	Payments increased in 2008/09 as the City Inn Westminster rates decreased in comparison to alternative hotels, making the City Inn a more cost effective option. The City Inn was then added to Expotel.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Bullying: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 2 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1129W, on bullying: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, what posts were held by those against whom the complaints were made.

Barbara Follett: It is not the policy of this Department to publish details relating to complaints which could lead to the identification of the individuals concerned.

Coastal Erosion: Southend on Sea

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he  (a) has had in the last 12 months and  (b) plans to have in the next 12 months with other Departments to discuss cliff slippage in Southend; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Sadiq Khan: I have been asked to reply.
	No discussions have been held and none are planned.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether the community infrastructure levy will apply to developments with permitted development rights;
	(2)  whether the community infrastructure levy will apply to agricultural building and developments which do not have permitted development rights.

Ian Austin: The August 2009 CIL consultation document described the definition of buildings which will be liable to pay CIL, and what exemptions the Government were minded to grant.
	The Government listened to the concerns of the agricultural industry during the consultation period. As a result, the draft regulations published earlier include a transitional exemption from CIL for new buildings that rely on the General Permitted Development Order. The charge cannot apply to new permitted development until 6 April 2013.

Council Housing: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many families were on housing waiting lists in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Ian Austin: Information specifically about the number of families registered on the social housing waiting list is not available. Social housing waiting list information is collected by household.

Council Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the gross value was of council tax receipts in  (a) England,  (b) each local authority and  (c) each Government office region expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year since 1997-98.

Barbara Follett: For information in respect of England as a whole I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 19 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 281-82W.
	For information in respect of the individual billing authorities in England I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 20 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1389W and on 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 214W.
	Information on council tax collected in each Government office region in England from 1997-98 to 2008-09 in both cash and real terms is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Cash 
			  £ million 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 North East 449 488 520 555 593 648 709 755 793 828 872 902 
			 North West(1) 1,310 1,424 1,519 1,623 1,733 1,860 2,034 2,063 2,235 2,349 2,475 2,570 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 866 949 1,014 1,087 1,171 1,277 1,415 1,512 1,595 1,668 1,755 1,835 
			 East Midlands 773 860 935 1,013 1,087 1,213 1,334 1,433 1,502 1,575 1,653 1,738 
			 West Midlands 940 1,027 1,113 1,198 1,298 1,421 1,573 1,662 1,743 1,813 1,918 1,996 
			 East of England 1,051 1,190 1,306 1,427 1,542 1,722 1,977 2,122 2,225 2,345 2,484 2,613 
			 London 1,386 1,486 1,616 1,767 1,944 2,099 2,448 2,617 2,771 2,888 3,051 3,171 
			 South East(1) 1,716 1,926 2,092 2,260 2,435 2,696 3,102 3,267 3,506 3,691 3,892 4,098 
			 South West 995 1,109 1,203 1,312 1,406 1,576 1,801 1,942 2,048 2,158 2,274 2,395 
			 England 9,488 10,459 11,318 12,242 13,208 14,511 16,392 17,372 18,419 19,315 20374 21,319 
		
	
	
		
			  Real terms at 2008-09 prices calculated using the retail prices index as at April 2008 
			  £ million 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 North East 614 642 674 699 733 789 837 870 885 902 909 902 
			 North West(1) 1,794 1,875 1,968 2,042 2,142 2,266 2,403 2,377 2,497 2,559 2,578 2,570 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,186 1,249 1,313 1,368 1,448 1,555 1,671 1,742 1,781 1,817 1,829 1,835 
			 East Midlands 1,058 1,132 1,211 1,274 1,343 1,477 1,575 1,651 1,678 1,715 1,722 1,738 
			 West Midlands 1,288 1,352 1,441 1,507 1,605 1,731 1,858 1,916 1,947 1,975 1,998 1,996 
			 East of England 1,439 1,566 1,692 1,795 1,906 2,097 2,334 2,445 2,485 2,553 2,588 2,613 
			 London 1,898 1,956 2,093 2,223 2,403 2,556 2,891 3,016 3,095 3,145 3,178 3,171 
			 South East(1) 2,350 2,535 2,710 2,843 3,010 3,284 3,664 3,764 3,916 4,020 4,055 4,098 
			 South West 1,363 1,459 1,558 1,651 1,738 1,919 2,127 2,238 2,288 2,350 2,370 2,395 
			 England 12,990 13,766 14,661 15,401 16,328 17,674 19,360 20,019 20,572 21,036 21,227 21,319 
			 (1) Data for two authorities not received in 2004-05. 
		
	
	The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of Council Tax and Non-domestic rates returns completed annually by all billing authorities in England and the real terms data are given at 2008-09 prices.

Council Tax: Valuation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's pre-release announcement on council tax of 10 March 2010, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent list of dwelling house and value significant codes used by each local authority.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Valuation Office Agency's Property Details Guide, which is available in the Library and the most up-to-date version is available on its website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Departmental Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its agencies spent on advertising via Google Adwords in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and for what keywords.

Barbara Follett: The Department purchases its digital marketing through the COI framework appointed agency i-Level.
	i-Level have confirmed that from 1 April 2009 to 24 March 2010, the Department spent a total of £212,825.94 advertising via Google Adwords.
	In this period the Department bought against 868 different keywords.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department provides subsidised gym facilities for its staff.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not provide subsidised gym facilities for staff.

Departmental Computers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, column 479W, on departmental computers, what software is included in the average price for a  (a) desktop and  (b) laptop computer; and what the typical make, model and specification is for (i) desktop and (ii) laptop computers purchased for such prices.

Barbara Follett: Included within the average price, which was given in the answer I provided on February 23rd 2010, both desktops and laptops are loaded with Microsoft Window XP operating system as well as a suite of security software. We are unable to provide details on the suite of security software loaded due to security reasons.
	Typical make, model and specifications within the estate are as follows:
	 (a) Desktop
	DELL Optiplex 745 SF
	Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (667 MHZ DDR2 DU)
	19 inch LCD Monitor, 2 x 512 MB memory, 80GB hard drive (72000 RPM), Floppy Disk Drive : 3.5 1.44MB INTERNAL, 24 x DVD-ROM and CD/RW, Keyboard.
	 (b) Laptop
	DELL Latitude E6400
	Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz, 10066MHz, 3MB)
	14.1 inch screen, 2 x 1 GB memory, 80 GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM and 24X CD+/-RW, Modem: UK Internal 56.6K.

Departmental Computers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2010,  Official Report, column 479W, on departmental computers, whether the average price for  (a) desktop and  (b) laptop computers includes (i) catalogue management, (ii) new order authorisation, (iii) disc imaging and software installation, (iv) delivery and removal of old kit, (v) installation, (vi) field engineering support and (vii) removal and disposal.

Barbara Follett: Yes, the average price-provided under our answer of 23 February 2010-for desktop and laptops does include these costs.

Departmental Food

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and its non-departmental public bodies encourage its catering contractors to follow the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) guidance for Public Sector Food Procurement Initiatives.
	The initiative aims to deliver a world class sustainable farming and food sector. It also provides data on the domestically produced food used by, and supplied to, Government Departments. CLG reports to DEFRA on the procurement of food, catering services and catering equipment, indicating the proportion of United Kingdom produce supplied from farm assured, organic, fair trade tea and coffee and seasonal produce. The reports are published on the Raising Awareness page of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiatives website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department, its predecessor and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what those items were.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not retain information on spending on promotional items in a fashion which distinguishes between those carrying the Department's branding and logo and those which do not.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the five most expensive hospitality events hosted by his Department and its agencies were in the last three years; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose of each such event was.

Barbara Follett: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 1 March 2010,  Official Report, column 956W, on departmental pay, what the average annual salary is of special advisers in his Department.

Barbara Follett: The average annual salary is of special advisers in this Department is £72,000.

Departmental Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average pay and pension cost, including employer national insurance contributions, is for a press officer in his Department.

Barbara Follett: The average pay and pension cost for a press officer (including salary, employer's national insurance contributions and pension costs) in this Department is £48,214.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding under each programme to improve  (a) levels of employment,  (b) levels of income,  (c) health levels,  (d) educational achievement,  (d) the living environment,  (e) crime levels and  (f) access to housing and services his Department allocated to each London borough in each year since 2000; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that funding in each case.

Rosie Winterton: Improvements to the outcomes listed in parts  (a) to  (e) are encompassed within the aims of the Department's area-based programmes. In line with devolutionary principles, many of the funding arrangements allow for local flexibility in identifying priorities within the local authority area.
	The main area-based programmes which have allocated funding to London boroughs since 2000 are:
	Safer and Stronger Communities Fund, comprising: Neighbourhood Element and Cleaner, Safer, Greener Element
	Liveability Fund
	Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
	New Deal for Communities
	Local Enterprise Growth Initiative
	Working Neighbourhoods Fund
	Thames Gateway Programme
	Inspiring Communities Grant.
	Funding allocated from these programmes to London authorities is included in tables 1 to 6 which have been laid in the Library of the House.
	 (f) The main programmes which seek to improve access to housing in London boroughs include:
	Choice Based Letting
	The Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing Programme
	The Supporting People programme.
	Funding information for these programmes is included in tables 7 to 10 which have been laid in the Library of the House.
	Evaluation of the effectiveness of funding for programmes under  (a) to  (f) have not been conducted at the local authority level. Completed national level evaluations are available from the Department's website.

Departmental Records

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's guidance to staff on records management and filing for private offices

Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office and the National Archives in June 2009 for the management of private office records. I have arranged for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which of its  (a) best value inspection reports,  (b) audit letters,  (c) comprehensive performance assessment reports and  (d) comprehensive area assessment reports the Audit Commission has recommended a local authority to consider introducing alternate weekly collections of household rubbish.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	Without reviewing over 2,000 documents, which would only be possible at disproportionate cost, the Audit Commission is aware of only two audit, inspection or assessment reports since 2004 which recommend that a local authority considers alternate weekly collections of household rubbish.
	These are:
	Waste Management inspection report for West Devon District Council (January 2005)
	Waste Management inspection report for Cannock Chase District Council (September 2005)
	Both reports are available on the Commission's website
	www.audit-commission.gov.uk
	The Commission's approach to this issue is the same as for other questions of public service delivery. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver their services. We expect them to consider all relevant options, to make their decision on the basis of accurate information and to be accountable for the cost and service outcomes achieved.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the email from the Audit Commission to Southampton City Council of 26 August 2004 on fortnightly rubbish collections and  (b) the associated best value inspection report.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	A copy of the Audit Commission's best value inspection report on Southampton City Council's waste management service (published 2004) has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The email from the Audit Commission to Southampton City Council of 26 August 2004 has also been placed in the Library.
	The inspection report can also be found on the Audit Commission's website at:
	http://www.audit-commission.Gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/InspectionOutput/InspectionReports/2004/SouthamptonWasteMgt29Oct04REP.pdf
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010,  Official Report, columns 873-4W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's  (a) waste management quick guide and  (b) draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations guidance.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
	 Parliamentary Question: pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns 873-4W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's (a) waste management quick guide and (b) draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations guidance.
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	A copy of the Audit Commission's waste management quick guide has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Our response to PQ 1532 09/10, from the Honorary Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 9 February 2010, incorrectly stated that the draft letter to local authorities on controlled waste regulations guidance was an Audit Commission letter. This draft letter was a DEFRA document and should not have been included in our response to PQ 1532 09/10.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public requests to order disposal have been submitted in the last 24 months; for which properties in each case; and what decision he took in each case.

Ian Austin: Local authorities are required to seek the consent of the Secretary of State before they can dispose of certain properties held for housing purposes. Over the last two years specific consent has been granted to the disposal of approximately 100,000 council houses and flats: the vast majority as part of large scale voluntary transfers to housing associations. No applications made to the Secretary of State to dispose of property have been refused over this period.

Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether public requests to order disposal apply to  (a) Transport for London,  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency and  (c) regional development agencies.

Barbara Follett: Public requests to order disposal (PROD) are not provided for, or referred to directly, in legislation. PRODs are a tool which allow the public to request that underused land be bought back into use. The Secretary of State has the power to direct disposals of unused or underused land held by public bodies under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. This power only applies to those public bodies listed in Schedule 16 to that Act.
	In response to your specific queries:
	 (a) Transport for London is considered to be a statutory undertaker under paragraph 18 of schedule 16 and is therefore covered by the Act.
	 (b) The Homes and Communities Agency is not listed in schedule 16.
	 (c) Regional development agencies are not listed in schedule 16.

English Regions Network: Manpower

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff work for the Civil Service in the English Regions programme.

Rosie Winterton: There are 46.8 full time equivalent staff working for the Civil Service in the English Regions programme.

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has held with Group 4 Securicor (G4S) on their proposal that G4S Fire Service provide a contingency force to cover the fire service in event of industrial action and pandemics; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: This Department has had no discussions with Group 4 Securicor (GS4) on their proposal that they provide contingency cover in the fire service in the event of industrial action and pandemics.

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what basis Group 4 Securicor have been identified as the preferred bidder to provide a national fire service reserve; when this decision was taken, and by whom; what consultations there have been with the Fire Brigades Union on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Firebuy, the national procurement body for the fire and rescue service in England, undertook the procurement process for the Fireguard Project at the request of 33 fire and rescue authorities, led by the Chief Fire Officers' Association. An evaluation of the bids was made on the basis of technical, financial, and legal and contractual criteria set out in advance of the invitation to tender process. The final decision to identify Group 4 Securicor as the preferred bidder for the Fireguard Project was taken by the Firebuy Board on 24 June 2008.
	The participating fire and rescue authorities however decided that they did not wish to enter into a contract, and the project was closed in May 2009. It would have been for the project sponsors to undertake any consultation they considered necessary.

Homelessness: Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps have been taken to provide housing advice to homeless people in Sefton;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1035W, on homelessness: Sefton, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of youth homelessness in Sefton.

Ian Austin: The homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) places a general duty on housing authorities to have a strategy for preventing and tackling homelessness in their area and to ensure that advice and assistance about preventing homelessness is available free of charge to everyone in their area.
	We have allocated a total of £186,000 to Sefton over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support their homelessness strategy. In addition, we have allocated £85,500 to Sefton over the year 2009-10 to help families at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction.
	This grant helps assist people of all ages and a proportion of this money will be spent on young people based on a local authority's need. We cannot disaggregate actual spend on young people but in England in the last quarter 39 per cent. of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty were aged 16-24 years.
	The Supporting People programme provides revenue funds for local authorities to commission housing related support services for vulnerable people in their area, to enable them to achieve and maintain independence. In 2008-09 Sefton spent £7,466,593 of their funding allocated through the Supporting People programme on housing related support services.
	Supporting People is a locally managed and delivered programme. Local authorities are responsible for making the strategic decisions regarding the programme including deciding what services to commission to meet local needs and priorities.

Housing Benefit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on average what weekly rent was paid by a  (a) private tenant,  (b) local authority tenant and  (c) registered social landlord tenant (i) before and (ii) after the deduction of housing benefit in each region in each of the last five years.

Ian Austin: This information is not available in the form requested.

Housing: Conferences

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department and its agencies sent representatives to each of the last three MIPIM international property conferences.

Barbara Follett: In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the MIPIM conference was attended by the following officials from Communities and Local Government:
	 2007
	Director general, Policy Programmes and Innovation.
	 2008
	Director general, Housing and Planning
	Director general, Tackling Disadvantage
	Director general, Finance and Corporate Services.
	 2009
	Director general, Housing and Planning
	Director general, Regions and Communities.
	No departmental Ministers or officials have attended the MIPIM conference in 2010.
	The Department's agencies are The Fire Service College, Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and the QEII Conference Centre. None of these agencies attended MIPIM in 2007, 2008 or 2009.

Housing: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 371W, on housing: databases, how many  (a) dwellings,  (b) composite hereditaments and  (c) hereditaments in England have been allocated a unique address reference number by the Valuation Office Agency.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	All entries in rating lists and council tax valuation lists have unique address reference numbers. Dwellings are shown in the valuation lists; non-domestic properties in the rating lists and mixed properties (known as composites) usually have an entry in both.
	The latest figures released show there are, in England, approximately 22.8 million entries in council tax valuation lists, of which, some 280,000 are composite dwellings. There are approximately 1.7 million entries in rating lists in England.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to encourage sustainable housing development in the West Midlands.

John Healey: Budget 2009 and our £1.5 billion Housing Pledge in June 2009, has to date meant I have been able to release to the west midlands £80 million for the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme targeted at currently stalled house building sites, to support construction of high quality housing; and £21 million for new energy efficient local authority house building. Also, from June 2009 to January 2010 west midlands has been allocated £170 million of grant from the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP). Homes supported under NAHP are expected to be Code level 3 or above.
	More generally, this Department has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in developing the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) policy to help improve the sustainability of homes both during construction as well as occupation. The Code is the national voluntary standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The Code aims to reduce carbon emissions and encourage homes that are more sustainable.
	Under the Planning Policy Statement on climate change PPS 1 Local Authorities can specify levels of the Code as a planning condition as long as they have specified local circumstances that warrant and allow any local requirement.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what mechanisms he plans to make efficiency savings in local government in the next three years; what targets he has set local authorities on efficiency savings; and whether he plans to change the level of funding provided by his Department to local authorities.

Barbara Follett: Local Government have to try to achieve at least 3 per cent. efficiency savings in each of the first two years of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period (2008-09 and 2009-10) and 4 per cent. in 2010-11. Overall, we expect local authorities to achieve £5.5 billion in cumulative savings by the end of 2010-11.
	No overall target has been set for efficiency savings in 2011-12 and 2012-13. However, the 2009 pre-Budget report set out the potential for local government to make £800 million savings by 2012-13, of which £550 million could come from more efficient waste collection and disposal; reducing the burden of inspection, assessment and reporting requirements across Government measures to reduce duplication and inefficiency between the different tiers of local government and a further £250 million could come from reducing variations in spend on residential care.
	In the 2010 Budget, we confirmed £11 billion of savings across the public sector through the Operational Efficiency Programme and 'Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government'. Local government is expected to contribute savings of £2.1 billion towards this total.
	Decisions about public spending overall from 2011-12 will be taken in the spending review.

Local Government Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the monetary value was  (a) in total and  (b) per capita of the provisional local authority formula grant for (i) England, (ii) the South West and (iii) each local authority in the South West in each year from 1979 to 1997;
	(2)  what the monetary value was  (a) in total and  (b) per capita of the local authority formula grant for (i) England, (ii) the South West and (iii) each local authority in the South West in each year from 1979 to 1997.

Barbara Follett: Formula grant comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula police grant, where appropriate.
	CLG does not keep records of the provisional allocations of formula grant.
	CLG only hold records of the amount of revenue support grant and redistributed business rates allocated to local authorities from 1990-91, the start of the SSA system. We do not hold records of the Home Office police grant over this period.
	Prior to 1993-94 formula grant was provided only to billing authorities.
	A table has been laid in the Library of the House providing CLG formula grant (which comprises revenue support grant plus redistributed business rates), the population data used in the calculation of that year's formula grant, and the CLG formula grant per head for all authorities, together with the totals.
	Local government reorganisation occurred during this period. We have provided the data for all authorities that existed during this period. Where authorities did not exist for a particular year the area has been greyed out.

Local Government: Carbon Emissions

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on the  (a) council tax rates and  (b) finances of local authorities if they do not reduce carbon dioxide levels significantly below their baseline of the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Government have assessed the potential burden of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on local authorities, and has determined that it will not constitute a new burden for the sector. Its overall impact is not therefore expected to increase council tax, but will result in net savings for local authorities.
	Analysis indicates that the potential savings from reduced energy bills are far higher than the costs incurred. The financial impact of the CRC will be determined by the organisation's relative performance as compared to other participants. The maximum penalty will be an extremely small fraction of local authorities operating costs, and this would be offset by even very modest improvements in energy efficiency.

Local Government: Fees and Charges

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Audit Commission has provided guidance to local authorities on charging for municipal leisure services.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
	The Audit Commission's national report Positively Charged, published in January 2008, makes recommendations designed to help councils make better use of their charging powers and discusses how councils can improve their approach, and communicate better with councillors and the general public about the purposes of charging. This report provides general guidance on how to go about making charging decisions rather than any specific advice, though the examples used in the report include some from leisure services.
	The Commission has also published Better Information, Better Decisions, Better Services - a series of guides to the information required for specific decisions. One of the guides covers the information councils need to make decisions on charging for sports services. Both the report and the decision guide are available on the Commission's website and the links are below.
	Positively Charged national studies report:
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nationalstudies/localgov/Pages/positivelycharged.aspx
	Better information, Better decisions, Better services guide:
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/AuditCommissionReports/Nationalstudies/DecisionGuideSports.pdf
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Local Government: Inspections

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the effects of Comprehensive Area Assessment regime on the level of inspection and assessment of local authorities; and what estimate was made of the (a) cost of and  (b) savings likely to be generated by that regime prior to its introduction.

Rosie Winterton: The Audit Commission, on behalf of the joint inspectorates responsible for the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), commissioned two independent evaluation reports of the implementation and costs of the first year of the CAA. The reports were published on 17 March 2010 by Shared Intelligence and the Office for Public Management (OPM) respectively. The Shared Intelligence report demonstrates widespread support for the CAA and the move to a more risk-based approach to assessment and inspection. The OPM report indicates that the costs to councils of CAA are lower than they were for CPA by at least 15 per cent.- approximately £4 million. However, the report explains that this is a conservative estimate and the actual reduction is likely to be greater, up to £19 million. There is great variation in the costs which reflect the choices councils make about how much to spend preparing for and responding to inspection. A further 10 per cent. savings reduction is expected from one-off costs of preparation by councils in the first year of the CAA.
	As part of this Department's regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of the Local Government White Paper published in 2006, we estimated costs and savings to be made from the introduction of the new CAA regime of approximately £7 million and £23 million respectively, a net reduction of £16 million.
	As announced in the Smarter Government Budget progress update, Government are committed to a measurable reduction in the costs of compliance with assessment and inspection for public services. We will also continue to look at how to make assessment and inspection more effective and streamlined.

Local Government: Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to require local authorities to publish the name, title and full remuneration package of each local authority employee earning over £60,000.

Barbara Follett: New regulations, which come into force on 31 March 2010, amending the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003 No. 533), will improve the transparency of reporting the remuneration of senior officers in public bodies, including local authorities.
	Local authorities will be required to disclose, within their Statement of Annual Accounts, details of the number of staff in receipt of salaries over £50,000, in bandings of £5,000. In addition, these regulations will also require local authority employers to disclose detailed remuneration information, by title, for those officers holding senior positions equivalent to board level, and to name all employees in receipt of salaries over £150,000.

Local Government: Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 16 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 1291-2W, on local government: pensions, what the cash value was of the payment made to local authorities to compensate for the effects of the abolition of advanced corporation tax relief on the Local Government Pension Scheme in each year since 1998; and what measure of inflation has been used to index such funding.

Barbara Follett: The financial impact of the abolition of advanced corporation tax relief on local authority pension schemes was fully assessed by all the relevant parties, including the Local Government Association and each pension fund authority at the time of abolition and it was found to be £130 million. The spending plans for local government provided in each successive spending review have taken into account factors like the pressures authorities face, along with the scope for efficiency savings.
	The Government have provided significant investment in local government with a 45 per cent. real terms increase in funding between 1997 and 2010-11.

Local Government: Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the March 2010 revaluation on the level of employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme from March 2011.

Rosie Winterton: The Local Government Pension Scheme is kept under review to ensure its ongoing affordability and fairness to taxpayers.
	The level of employers' contributions to apply from March 2011 will be set later this year by each of the 89 individual pension fund authorities in England and Wales in conjunction with their fund actuaries following the Scheme actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2010. Contribution rates for participating employers will be set at a level to achieve affordability and satisfy the Scheme's regulatory requirement for solvency.
	The Scheme's regulatory provision also require employers' rates to be set at as constant a rate as possible to help participating employers plan and implement their budgets.

Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of  (a) pensioners and  (b) children were living in income-deprived households in each (i) local authority and (ii) constituency according to the most recent indices of multiple deprivation data.

Rosie Winterton: The English indices of deprivation have, since 2004, been produced at lower level super output area (LSOA) level. LSOAs are smaller than constituencies and are designed to remain consistent in size, and over time, to allow more detailed identification of pockets of deprivation. This also overcomes difficulties in producing statistics for electoral wards and parliamentary constituencies which are associated with frequent boundary changes. There are 32,482 LSOAs in England with an average population of 1,500 people.
	The income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) and the income deprivation affecting older people index (IDAOPI) were also produced for each LSOA in England. These can be downloaded from the CLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/xls/576508.xls
	Summary measures for larger areas, such as local authority districts or parliamentary constituencies, are not produced for the IDACI and IDAOPI.

Non-domestic Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of eligible firms claimed small business rate relief in each local authority billing area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: The Department's report 'Small Business Rate Relief-improving evidence on eligibility and take-up' was published on December 9 2009. It estimates that, of the approximately 1.2 million non-domestic properties in England which fall below the current rateable value (RV) thresholds for SBRR, around 575,000 are occupied by eligible small businesses. This report has been validated by an independent peer review and is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/
	The methodology used in the report only applies to England as a whole. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate the proportion of eligible firms claiming SBRR in each local authority.
	However, new experimental statistics on the number of hereditaments in England claiming SBRR published on the Communities and Local Government website on 252 February 2010, show that 462,000 of them were benefiting from SBRR on 31 December 2008.
	By applying that figure to the eligibility estimates made for the 2005 rating list it is estimated that around 80 per cent. of eligible hereditaments in England were claiming SBRR in 2008-09-see table 1.
	Relief granted to small businesses has been increasing since SBRR was introduced-from £202 million in 2005-06 to £298 million in 2008-09. This represents a real terms increase of 34 per cent. Furthermore in 2008-09, 92 per cent. of the total relief that would be paid if all those estimated to be eligible were to claim, was actually being paid-see table 2.
	This statistical release is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/sbrrfeb2010
	
		
			  Table 1: Take-up of SBRR-numbers claiming 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of hereditaments actually claiming SBRR (thousand) 396 433 462 
			 Number of hereditaments estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses (thousand) 575 575 575 
			 
			 Percentage of estimated eligible actually claiming 69 75 80 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Take-up of SBRR 2005-06 to 2008-09-relief 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Total relief that would be paid out if all properties estimated to be occupied by eligible small businesses were to claim(1) (£ million) 
			 Relief actually claimed (£ million) 202 237 259 298 
			  
			 Percentage take-up(2) 69 78 83 92 
			 (1) For details of how this estimate was derived please see the report 'Small business rate relief-improving evidence on eligibility and take-up: Methodology'. (2) Percentage of total relief, which would be paid if all eligible small businesses claimed it, that was actually paid.

Non-domestic Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether business rate bills for 2005-10 will be subject to transitional relief.

Barbara Follett: In 2005 the Government implemented a transitional relief scheme to protect ratepayers from large increases in business rates due to the 2005 revaluation. The 2005 transitional relief scheme ran until 31 March 2009.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that fast track and other rating reassessments on port companies which are not completed until after the start of financial year 2010-11 do not include liability for retrospective charges to 2005.

Barbara Follett: The effective date of alterations to the Rating List is governed by the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009. Where there is a difference between the day a Rating List is altered and the effective date of the alteration, a backdated liability will accrue. The Government do not currently have any plans to amend these regulations.
	The review of ports by the Valuation Office Agency was carried out to ensure that all individual business properties within and outside ports were rated fairly to ensure that the burden of contributions to funding local government is shared equitably between businesses around the country.
	The Government has listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some within the ports. It has legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flow during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay now by 87.5 per cent.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Valuation Office Agency  (a) received an application for and  (b) made a decision on the fast-track reassessment of Scotline.

Barbara Follett: We are unable to comment on individual cases but the Valuation Office Agency is working with ratepayers, or their representatives, to resolve appeals relating to ports under the fast-track arrangements.

Parish Councils: Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of parish council precepts on council tax was in 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of that level in 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: The average level of parish council precepts on council tax in England in 2008-09, the latest date for which an estimate has been made, is £45. This figure is published in Table A3b of 'Local Government Financial Statistics No. 19 2009', a copy of which is available in the Library of the House or on the Communities and Local Government website.
	The estimate for 2009-10 will be published in 'Local Government Financial Statistics No. 20 2010' in June 2010. No date has been set for the publishing of the estimate for 2010-11.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were  (a) built and  (b) purchased by landlords for social rent in each year since 1997.

Ian Austin: Information showing additional new build and acquired affordable homes, including homes for social rent, can be found in Live Table 1009 on the Communities and Local Government website at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1406088.xls

Wolverhampton City Council

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's best value inspection report of March 2005 on Wolverhampton City Council.

Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Gareth Davies, dated 29 March 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question was passed to the Chief Executive who has asked me to reply in his absence.
	The Audit Commission's best value inspection report on Wolverhampton City Council's waste management service was published in May 2005. The fieldwork for the inspection was carried out in March 2005.
	A copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library and can also be found on the Audit Commission's website at:
	www.audit-commission.gov.uk/localgov/audit/inspection/reports/Pages/wastemanagement_17.aspx?AIBID=127
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer question 306633, on weekly rent, tabled on 8 December 2009.

Ian Austin: I have now replied to the hon. Member's question.